The Sydney Stingers are a LGBTIQ-inclusive water polo club in Sydney, Australia with teams playing in the NSW metropolitan competition and an internal all-gender social competition with a focus on beginners’ skills, called INTRA. Originally formed in October 2001 to represent Sydney in the 2002 Gay Games, the club is now a well-known part of the Sydney LGBTIQ+ sporting and water polo communities. 

Our mission is to provide a safe, inclusive and friendly environment to learn, play water polo, train and socialise. Anyone is welcome regardless of experience, although water polo does require strong swimming skills and endurance. We encourage new players to join and actively develop the skills required. We train each Saturday morning at Ryde Aquatic Leisure Centre and each Sunday afternoon at Gunyama Park Aquatic Centre, as well as holding regular swim squad meets on Thursday nights at Cook and Philip Park Pool.

The Stingers also have a busy calendar of social and fundraising events including the Mardi Gras parade and our famous yearly Trivia Nights in conjunction with our generous supporters. 

For the current Summer 2023/24 season there are six Sydney Stingers teams competing in the Water Polo NSW metropolitan league. Games are played at various pools across metropolitan Sydney on Tuesday night (Men’s League), Wednesday night (Division 2 Women’s League) and Saturday afternoons (Division 1 Women’s League).

Stingers INTRA Competitions

In 2021, the Stingers established a new all-internal club competition designed to provide a social and inclusive place to play the sport. In particular, INTRA focuses on beginners’ game and team skills, but it is also a great way to stay involved in the game and club with shorter seasons held multiple times across the year, consistent game location/time at Gunyama Park on Sunday afternoons and an all-inclusive environment with mixed teams.

Keep track of game times, venues and the current ladder here.

EXECUTIVE ROLES

President: Ben Thomas
Vice President: Dylan Vitucci
Secretary: Tom Cooney
Treasurer: Joshua Sprake
General Executive: Stefani Jelic
Ordinary Executives: Beck Colechin, Rachel Collier, Dean Lane

Find US: STINGERS POOLS + TRAINING CENTREs

Ryde Aquatic Leisure Centre
504 Victoria Rd
Ryde NSW 2112