The Regional Academies of Sport Ltd (RAS Ltd) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2025 Santos Scholarship Program, continuing a transformative partnership with Santos that provides critical support to regional athletes striving for excellence.

Initially launched in partnership with the Hunter Academy of Sport (HAS) and Central Coast Academy of Sport (CCAS), the program has expanded in 2025 to include the Northern Inland Academy of Sport (NIAS) and the introduction of Rural and Remote Scholarships, ensuring even greater access to opportunities for athletes across regional NSW.

The Santos Scholarship Program comprises of three categories:

• • Athlete Excellence Scholarships – supporting athletes with demonstrated high performance potential.

• • Athlete Support Scholarships – assisting athletes with essential development needs.

• • Rural and Remote Scholarships – providing targeted assistance to athletes in geographically isolated areas.

Chief Executive Officer of RAS Ltd, Brett O’Farrell, said the partnership continues to deliver a meaningful impact:

“The Santos Scholarship Program is about more than financial assistance – it’s about creating pathways for regional athletes to thrive. With Santos’ support, we’ve been able to expand the program to include NIAS and introduce Rural and Remote Scholarships, ensuring that no athlete is left behind because of where they live,” Mr O’Farrell said.

This year, close to 100 applications were received across the three categories, making the selection process extremely competitive and highlighting the depth of talent in regional communities.

Scholarship Recipients

Athlete Excellence

• • Archie Clarke – Hockey (NIAS)

• • Ava Ross – Athletics (HAS)

• • Christine Fernance – Hockey (HAS)

• • Ella Craven-Sands – Hockey (HAS)

• • Erika Enderby – Orienteering (HAS)

• • Hanna Mounter – Hockey / Swimming / Soccer (HAS)

• • Harper Nelmes – MTB (HAS)

• • Harvey Taylor – Hockey (CCAS)

• • Jack Sullivan – Athletics (CCAS)

• • Kody Wrench – Athletics (CCAS)

• • Martin Wroblewski – Martial Arts (HAS)

• • Patrick Harrison – Baseball (HAS)

• • Piper Blinman – Softball (NIAS)

• • Tahlia Goy – Surf Lifesaving (CCAS)

• • Zachary West – Athletics (HAS)

Athlete Support

• • Aaliyah Farmer Dally – Netball (CCAS)

• • Cameron McLennan – Hockey (HAS)

• • Dominic Zanardi – Soccer (HAS)

• • Emma Loveday – Hockey (HAS)

• • Georgia Lees – Triathlon (CCAS)

• • Isaac MacClure – Basketball (HAS)

• • Jacob Tonga – Athletics (HAS)

• • Keaton John – AFL (CCAS)

• • William Canestro – Rugby Union (CCAS)

• • Zoe Rawling – Basketball (CCAS)

Rural & Remote

• • Danyela Bailey – Netball (NIAS)

• • Elizabeth Faris – Shooting (NIAS)

• • Elouise Trotter – Softball (NIAS)

• • Maddison Connole – Netball Umpires (NIAS)

• • Madeline Trotter – Softball (NIAS)

• • Paige Flloyd – Netball (NIAS)

Santos Executive Vice President Eastern Australia and Papua New Guinea, Brett Darley, said he was proud to support the region’s emerging talent as part of Santos’ commitment to supporting local communities where we operate to thrive.

“Through our partnership, we are hoping to remove some of the economic hurdles that many athletes face when they are juggling intensive training and competition schedules,” Mr Darley said.  

“I am delighted our support will help aspiring sport stars in the Hunter, Central Coast and Northern Inland regions of New South Wales reach their full potential. Santos has a 70-year history of working in partnership with community organisations to support initiatives that provide lasting benefits to local communities. 

“Our support will help improve access to elite coaching and enhance Indigenous talent identification programs right across the region,” he said.  

This partnership exemplifies the shared vision of RAS Ltd and Santos to strengthen regional sport, support athletes in their journeys, and foster vibrant communities across NSW.