Hundreds of veteran cricketers from across Australia and New Zealand will descend on Gippsland late this year after the region was selected to host the 2026 Cricket Australia Masters Over 60s National Championships.
The prestigious tournament will be hosted by the Gippsland Goannas Cricket Club, with matches and social events centred around the Latrobe Valley from November 21 to 26.
The Over 60s division is the longest-running national masters championship and will feature three divisions of competitive action. Around 300 players, along with umpires, officials, and family members, are expected to bring roughly 500 visitors to the region, providing a significant boost to the local economy and tourism sector.
The week kicks off on Saturday, November 21, with a captain and managers’ briefing at the Italian Australian Club in Morwell at 3pm, followed by a welcome event for all participants from 4pm.
On-field competition begins Sunday, November 22, with play running through to finals on Thursday, November 26. A formal presentation ceremony will wrap up the week at Morwell’s Kernot Hall on Thursday evening.
The Goannas — who field teams in the Victorian Over 50s, 60s, and 70s competitions — aim to give the championships a distinct local flavour by showcasing Gippsland’s businesses, produce, and sporting facilities.
The blockbuster week serves as a prelude to further national action in December, when the Wellington Shire and the Sale Maffra area host the Over 55s National Championships.
