Australian Fencing

2018/19 Cadet & Junior HPP - Nominations Now Open

The AFF is pleased to advise that nominations are now open for the 2018/19 High Performance Program in the Cadet (U/17) and Junior (U/20) age categories.

The High Performance Program (HPP) comprises the Australian Fencing Team (AFT) and the Australian Fencing Squad (AFS). The 2018/19 cycle runs from 1 July 2018 to 30 June 2019.

Fencers (and their parents) who are considering nominating for the HPP should carefully read the documentation contained in the 'High Performance Program' section of this website. In particular, the HPP Athlete Agreement (click here) sets out the financial and other obligations which apply to fencers participating in the High Performance Program, while the HPP Annual Plan (click here) outlines the training and competition commitments required of fencers under the program.

Membership of the Australian Fencing Team (AFT) comes with demanding training and competition requirements relevant to fencers aiming to compete at the highest international level (World Championships). The Australian Fencing Squad (AFS) offers a preparatory program to the AFT, which enables fencers to participate in HPP activities while following a slightly less demanding program.

Joining the HPP requires a significant commitment. Accordingly, fencers and their parents are advised to plan ahead and ensure they are able to undertake the program before submitting their nomination.

Selections for the AFT and AFS are made in accordance with sections A4.16 to A4.22 of the AFF Selection Policy Fencers and their parents are encouraged to review these sections of the policy (including the requirements set out in Appendices F and G) to ensure they nominate for the correct HPP category. Fencers who nominate for the AFT but are not selected will be taken to have also nominated for the AFS (unless otherwise advised).

Please note that fencers who are selected for the 2018/19 HPP will be required to attend the HPP camp at the AIS in Canberra from 6 to 9 July 2018. Normal registrations for the camp close on 20 May 2018, after which late fees apply. Accordingly, fencers who are considering nominating for the HPP should also register for the camp - refunds will be available in the event of non-selection.

Fencers who wish to nominate for the 2018/19 Cadet & Junior HPP can do so by clicking here. You can see who has nominated already by clicking here. The closing date for nominations is 31 May 2018.

If you have any questions or would like further information about the High Performance Program, please contact the AFF Operations Manager (Caitlin Fox-Harding) by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

AFF implements new approach to referee management

The AFF is pleased to announce a new approach to managing the appointment of Australian referees at national tournaments. The new system will be implemented for the first time at the Robyn Chaplin Tournament (AFC#2) in Adelaide in June.

We have appointed Mr Emanuele Bucca from the Italian Fencing Federation as the Referee Director. Emanuale will provide mentoring and feedback to Australian referees, including immediate video analysis of their performance. Emanuele is an FIE ‘B’ accredited (foil and sabre) referee, whose most recent tournaments include the Cadet & Junior World Championships in Verona and the Men’s Sabre World Cup in Algeria (November 2017). Emanuele attended the 2017 Australian Open and Veteran Fencing Championships in Canberra last December as our international guest referee, where he had the opportunity to engage with many of our leading referees.

We are delighted that an international referee of Emanuele’s calibre has agreed to contribute his expertise and enthusiasm to the ongoing development of Australia’s referees. We are conscious that regular exposure to the current application of the rules and the phrasing of fencing actions is critical to ensuring the future success of our fencers on the international stage.

We will continue our current approach of inviting an FIE accredited international referee to each AFC open event. Where Emanuele is unable to attend, he will assist in identifying an appropriate referee, to ensure continuity in the ongoing mentoring and education process.

The guest referee for the Robyn Chaplin Tournament (AFC#2) is Miss Nunta Chantasuvannasin from Thailand. Nunta holds an FIE B Licence in all three weapons and refereed at the 2018 Cadet & Junior World Championships. She has been appointed as a reserve for the 2018 Senior World Championships and the 2018 Youth Olympic Games.

We are also delighted to announce the appointment of three of Australia’s most talented and experienced referees – Samantha Auty, Lucas Webber and Michael Nelson –as AFF Senior Referees. Sam, Lucas and Michael will share responsibility for the bout by bout allocation of referees during each AFC event. The appointment of Sam, Lucas and Michael recognises the commitment and dedication they have shown to developing their own refereeing skills and mentoring others.

The AFF Operations Manager Caitlin Fox-Harding will support Emanuele and our refereeing team, by managing referee nominations and scheduling prior to each event.

Our new approach to referee management has been adopted following the recent resignation of National Officiating Manager Peter Creese for personal reasons. Peter has fulfilled this role for a number of years and we thank him for his contribution.

Success for Project 5000 Grant Program applicants

Funding and in-kind support is now rolling out under the AFF Project 5000 grant program, with Melbourne’s Ruyton Girls School receiving a $5000 contribution to establish a school fencing program and club. 

The project is the brainchild of Victorian cadet fencer Lily Whitehead, a student at Ruyton, who is a passionate advocate for women’s fencing. Lily prepared a compelling presentation to earn the support of her school principal and community, leading to a grant bid based on a co-investment model.

With the assistance of the Project 5000 grant, Ruyton plans to introduce fencing in term three 2018 under the guidance of coach Pieter Leeuwenburgh.

Lily says she burst into tears when she heard Ruyton's bid had been successful, as her ambition to fence with a Ruyton school team at the National School Fencing Championships is one step closer to reality.

"I had a dream and thought it probably wouldn't come true soon enough for me, and now it has," Lily says.

She says many girls her age want to play sport but don't always know what to choose.

"I want them to know it's okay to pick up a sword and fence.

"I want to prove it's a sport that has no gender and has no boundaries."

The Ruyton submission detailed how many new fencers would be targeted in the current and future years, with clear pathways for students introduced to fencing at school to becoming affiliated at the state level.

The Adelaide Swords club also benefitted in round one of the Project 5000 grant program, securing 10 sets of plastic learn-to-fence equipment.

The club will use the equipment to start a program for younger children in the eight to 10-year-old age group, a demographic not traditionally catered to by the club.

The AFF will invite applications for the next Project 5000 Grant Program round shortly.

AFF opens Tranche 2 of Participation Grants Program

The AFF is delighted to announce the opening of Tranche 2 of the Project 5,000 Participation Grants Program, which will provide funding for targeted initiatives aimed at increasing participation in fencing. The program is being implemented as part of the AFF's strategic goal of achieving 5,000 'active members' (fencers affiliated at State level). 

The program will offer grant funding to clubs, State Associations and other eligible bodies to support activities which attract new participants to fencing. A total of up to $30,000 will be allocated during calendar 2018, subject to suitable applications being received. A maximum of $5,000 will be allocated to any one activity.

Fudning applications will be considered in three tranches during the year. Applications for Tranche 2 open on 5 May 2018 and close on 17 June 2018. 

Further information about the program (including funding criteria) is contained in the attached information sheet. To apply for funding, please complete the application form and return it by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. 

Attachments:

AFF Participation Grants - Tranche 2.pdf	[ ]	172 kB
Project 5000 Participation Grants Form.pdf	[ ]	414 kB

Nominations open for 2018 Asian Veterans Championships

Nominations are now open for fencers who wish to be selected to participate in the 4th Asian Veterans Championships, to be held in Wakayama, Japan from 1 to 4 September 2018.

This event is open to male fencers born in 1977 or earlier, and to female fencers born in 1982 or earlier. For further details of the competition format and schedule, see the information sheet on the AFF website - click here.

There is no limit on individual entries and each country can enter two teams in each gender / weapon category (teams must satisfy a minimum aggregate age requirement). Countries who attended this event in past years include Hong Kong, Japan, Singapore, Taipei and Iran.

While the AFF will be running an organised tour for this event, we will be seeking to do so in a way which minimises the costs for the fencers involved. Fencers will be required to organise their own travel and accommodation.

To nominate to compete in this event, click here. To see who else has nominated, click here. Nominations close on Sunday, 20 May 2018.

If you have any questions or would like to express interest for the role of team manager, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

2018 - Robyn Chaplin Tournament (AFC#2) & U23 Foil Championships

Registrations are now open for the second Australian Fencing Circuit event of 2018 - the Robyn Chaplin Tournament (AFC#2), incorporating the Australian Under 23 Foil Championships. 

This event will be held at the Immanuel College Sports Centre in Adelaide from 9 to 11 June 2018 - the preliminary schedule is available here.

Before registering, Australian fencers should make sure their home State affiliation is complete and paid up. Late registration fees apply from 26 May 2018, so be sure to register early! 

To register for entry (both local and overseas fencers), click here.

2018 Asian Veterans Championships

The FCA has released information about the 2018 Asian Veterans Championships, to be held in Wakayama, Japan from 1 to 4 September 2018 (see attached).

The event is open to male fencers born in 1978 or earlier and to female fencers born in 1983 or earlier.

The AFF will be running a formal nomination process for fencers wishing to participate in this event.

The nomination process will open in early May 2018. There is no limit on individual entries. Australian teams will be selected to participate in the team events, in accordance with the provisions of the AFF Selection Policy.

Fencers will be responsible for making their own travel arrangements. However, a manager will be appointed from among the team to liaise with the competition organisers and co-ordinate arrangements, in exchange for a modest honorarium.

If you are interested in the team manager role or have any other questions at this stage, please contact Caitlin Fox-Harding (AFF Operations Manager) by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Attachments:

AVFC_2018 INVITATION.pdf	[Competition Details ]	201 kB
AVFC_2018_LETTER.pdf	[Letter of Invitation]	181 kB

Australian Men's Foil Team receives ASC funding

The AFF is delighted to announce that we have obtained funding from the Australian Sports Commission (ASC) to assist the senior men's foil team in their preparation for the 2018 World Championships.

The funding of $40,000 allocated by the ASC will be applied to fund the costs of 4 fencers and a coach attending the FIE World Cup in St Petersbourg in early May, the FIE Grand Prix in Shanghai in mid-May and the Asian Championships in Bangkok in June.

This is the first time for many years that the AFF has received dedicated high performance funding from the ASC. It recognises the significant progress made by our men's foil team over the past twelve months and, in particular, their benchmark results at the 2017 World Championships in Leipzig, Germany.

The latest funding announcement follows the inclusion of the men's foil program in the expanded AIS Combat Institute, which was announced by the ASC in December 2017. The Combat Institute is intended to bring Australian combat sports together under an aggregated high performance framework, in a similar vein to the highly successful Olympic Winter Institute.

The AFF thanks the Australian Sports Commission and the Australian Institute of Sport for their recognition of our high potential men's foil team. In addition to funding upcoming tours, the AIS team has also assisted in a range of other area, including helping our fencers access direct income support and exploring opportunities to provide sports science expertise. We look forward to working together with the AIS to support our high performance fencers.