American Football Canterbury

31/08/2026

🐈‍⬛ 🏈 OFFICIAL CLUB STATEMENT:
Following our 2026 AGM, American Football Canterbury has made the decision to CANCEL OUR MEN’S CONTACT FOOTBALL 2026 SEASON.

This was a difficult decision, but was made in the interest of rebuilding our club from the ground up, and ensuring we remain committed to our Club’s strategy, which is:

“To put our players in the best position to pursue American football opportunities at the national team level, collegiate level, or international club level”.

We believe that re-investing in our Youth contact programme is the best way to achieve this in the short term. We have great coaching resources at the club that we believe should focus on continuing to develop and enhance our Youth programme, and do this by expanding the format of our Youth Football to 7-man contact American Football.

By shifting the focus of our club to Youth Contact Football for 2026, we hope to rebuild our player core to become that next generation of Senior Men’s contact football in future seasons. In the process, allowing our Youth players to get more value out of their football at this crucial stage of their playing careers, we hope AFC can feed more of our players into National squads and take these opportunities to platform themselves to pursue even greater opportunities in their young lives.

We want to sincerely thank all of our Senior players and their families over the past 3 years for the commitment, passion, and drive. Senior football will return to Canterbury soon, and we hope some of you will be ready to go when that opportunity returns.

17/08/2026

AFC AGM - Wednesday 26th August - 7pm - Via Zoom. Link to come

06/04/2026

🚨 Canterbury Flag Football Championship – Expression of Interest NOW OPEN 🚨

We’re excited to launch the Canterbury Flag Football Championship, a brand new regional competition bringing together players from across North, East, South, and West Christchurch.

This is your chance to be part of a competitive, high-energy flag football league, with teams built around where you live to support local trainings and strong team identity. Games will be played on a weeknight, making it easy to balance alongside school, work, and other commitments.

👉 Eligibility:

🚨 Canterbury Flag Football Championship – Expression of Interest NOW OPEN 🚨

We’re excited to launch the Canterbury Flag Football Championship, a brand new regional competition bringing together players from across North, East, South, and West Christchurch.

This is your chance to be part of a competitive, high-energy flag football league, with teams built around where you live to support local trainings and strong team identity. Games will be played on a weeknight, making it easy to balance alongside school, work, and other commitments.

👉 Eligibility:

Men’s: 16+
Women’s: 14+

This is an Expression of Interest only, allowing us to gauge numbers, form teams, and organise the competition structure.

If you’re keen to compete, develop your game, and be part of something exciting—get your name in now.

🔥 Register your interest today and represent your region.

This is an Expression of Interest only, allowing us to gauge numbers, form teams, and organise the competition structure.

If you’re keen to compete, develop your game, and be part of something exciting—get your name in now.

🔥 Register your interest today and represent your region.

FORM HERE:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSc5iGGhAGQdGvpZdzGkSfw0GapvuRLk8SV83ceLVg5a99_rmA/viewform?usp=publish-editor

30/03/2026

As we draw the curtain on another season, we just wanted to take a minute to shine a light on a guy who often goes under the radar.
James Lissaman is one of our AFOA refs based here in Christchurch. He doesn’t get the big Nationals games, he doesn’t get the overseas trips, he doesn’t get his name put up in lights on NZAFF or AFOA social media posts.
But James is absolutely invaluable to us. His focus is on our local competition and supporting our local kids. Week in and week out, we can count on James to be there to officiate. Whether it’s our junior or youth, flag or tackle, James always shows up. Quite simply, without him it would nearly be impossible for us to run the competitions we do.
And it doesn’t stop there. Not only does James referee, he also helps coach our juniors. He’s played a huge role in helping so many of our young players grow and develop.
Thank you James! We are incredibly lucky to have you and truly appreciate the time, energy, and passion you pour into junior and youth football in Canterbury.

29/03/2026

🏆 🏆 🏆 2026 Championships over. Add it to the collection 🐾 time to work for 2027 😤 🐈‍⬛ 🏈

29/03/2026

🏆 BACK-TO-BACK CHAMPIONS 🏆

Our Legends Men get it DONE again — going back-to-back National Champions at the 2026 Senior Flag Football Nationals. 💪🔥
A dominant run from a group that continues to set the standard.

Huge respect as well to our Open Men’s side finishing 7th in a tough, competitive field — plenty to build from and grow. 📈

Nothing but pride in the effort, commitment, and grit shown across both teams.

To our players — thank you for the work you put in, the sacrifices you make, and the way you represent.
To our supporters — we see you. We feel you. We appreciate you. 🙌

Great competition. Great battles.

Now… back to the grind.
2027 starts now. ⏳🔥

OnToTheNext

26/03/2026

We were lucky enough to roll out an extremely talented U17 team. While over half the team had not played at Nationals before, seven of them had represented New Zealand last year, so the team boasted plenty of experience and ability.
Right out of the blocks on day one, the team flexed their muscle. The offence was led by QB Cooper Cowles who threw 32 touchdowns, compared to just 2 interceptions, over the course of the weekend. 12 of those touchdowns were caught by Toby Park who was a handful for any opposing DB.
On defence, the boys were just as impressive, allowing only two teams to score a touchdown against them. Defensive captain Matt Sellers showed plenty of versatility, making sacks, snagging picks and generally putting in an impressive all-around performance.
The final pitted the Panthers against tough rivals Metro Lions Juniors, who Canterbury had narrowly beaten the day before. The Lions had an impressive lineup, featuring six New Zealand reps themselves. The game was an absolute barnburner, with the lead changing hands a number of times and so many key moments that could have turned the game either way. In the end, it all came down to one play. On fourth down, with less than 30 seconds remaining and down by one point on the scoreboard, the Panthers launched one final jump ball into the front of the endzone, where that man Toby Park, went up and came down with it for the winning score. The Canterbury sideline lost it's minds and our U17's were National Champs. Nerves shot, bodies spent, but worth every single minute.

22/03/2026

🏈 NZAFF National Flag Football Championships — What a Weekend! 🏈

An incredible effort from our AFC Canterbury Panthers youth and junior teams at Nationals in Auckland. The passion, grit, and pride shown on the field was unreal — and the results speak for themselves 👇

🥉 U15 Girls — 3rd Place
26–14 win over Metro Lions (Auckland)

🥈 U15 Boys — 2nd Place
19–25 loss to Tauranga City Tridents (Tauranga) in the Final

🏆 U17 Boys — NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
27–22 victory over Metro Lions (Auckland)

🏆 U20 Men — NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
32–18 victory over Metro Lions (Auckland)

We couldn’t be prouder of every athlete who wore the Panthers colours this weekend. You showed heart, toughness, and true team spirit from first whistle to final snap.

A huge shoutout to our incredible coaches Ariel Metekingi, Craig Cowles, Tim Cliff, Harrison Jolly, and Dan Thomson for their leadership, dedication, and tireless work.

Special recognition again to Craig and Tim for the massive behind-the-scenes effort building such a strong youth and junior programme for AFC.
To our amazing parents and supporters — thank you for making the trip north and bringing the noise. Your support means everything to these athletes.
You’ve made the Canterbury Panthers proud.
WE THE SOUTH!! 🔥🐾

Champions YouthSport GridironNZ AFC NationalChampionships

20/03/2026

Panthers en route!! 🐾

19/03/2026