Invictus Australia and Sydney Roosters Form Strategic Partnership for Veteran Support

Invictus Australia and the Sydney Roosters have today announced a formal partnership aimed at strengthening support for the veteran community through sport and professional knowledge sharing.

The collaboration formalises a long-standing relationship between the national charity and the NRL foundation club, focusing on resilience, rehabilitation, and community connection.

Commenting on the partnership, CEO of Invictus Australia, Michael Hartung OAM, said: “The Roosters have a proud and genuine history of honouring those who have served.”

“Formalising this partnership allows us to build on that shared foundation and create even greater opportunities for connection, contribution and wellbeing,” Hartung said. 

Emphasising that the partnership is an extension of the club’s values, Sydney Roosters CEO, Joe Kelly, added: “Our connection with the defence community runs deep… Through our partnership with Invictus Australia, we are proud to honour that legacy and strengthen our ongoing commitment to supporting veterans and their families.”

“This collaboration creates meaningful opportunities for veterans and their families to engage with our Club [and] feel part of the Roosters family,” Kelly said. 

The partnership arrives with deep historical significance, as the Roosters record at least 93 former players who served during the two World Wars. This legacy is integrated into the club’s identity through the Wall of Honour at their headquarters and the annual Anzac Day Cup clash against St George Illawarra. Both organisations intend to create new pathways for veterans and their families to engage with the “Roosters family” through matchday initiatives and community programs.

A key commercial and strategic pillar of the agreement is knowledge sharing between the defence and elite sporting sectors.

Both organisations will collaborate on high-performance insights, specifically in areas such as:

• Injury Rehabilitation: Applying elite sports medicine practices to veteran recovery.
• Transition and Induction: Sharing frameworks for moving from high-pressure service environments into civilian or professional roles.
• Professional Development: Utilising the lived experience of veterans to enhance leadership within the club.

The partnership will also be visualised through the club’s Bondi Blue commemorative jerseys and coordinated storytelling campaigns designed to highlight the impact of sport on mental and physical wellbeing.

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