Youi is linking its National Rugby League partnership to paediatric cancer funding through a new points-based initiative at NRL Magic Round Brisbane 2026, as insurers broaden sport-linked community programs this season. Working with the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC), Youi is launching Kick for a Cause at Magic Round. The initiative involves all 17 NRL clubs and 11 paediatric cancer centres across Australia and New Zealand, with a stated target of raising $1 million “to improve the care, comfort, and outcomes of every child facing cancer across Australia and New Zealand.” The participating centres are in communities where NRL clubs are based.
Over the three days of Magic Round in Brisbane, from May 15 to 17, Youi will link donations directly to on-field results. The insurer has pledged $1,000 for every successful conversion of a try and every penalty goal. For each successful field goal, the pledge will be doubled. The partners say about 1,000 children and teenagers in Australia and New Zealand are diagnosed with cancer each year, or roughly three children a day.
ARLC chairman Peter V’landys AM said the game will use Magic Round’s reach to support families facing childhood cancer. “Every child fighting cancer deserves the very best care, comfort, and hope – and rugby league is stepping up to help deliver it. At Magic Round, our game comes together in a powerful way. Every kick, every cheer, and every dollar raised will make a real difference for kids and families doing it tough. We thank our partner, Youi, for their support of this important initiative and urge all fans travelling to Brisbane for Magic Round and as well as those cheering on from home to get behind a very worthy cause by helping those who need it most,” V’landys said.
Funds raised through Kick for a Cause will be shared among 11 paediatric cancer centres and related foundations in Australia and New Zealand, with distribution coordinated alongside the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation and Starship Foundation. The centres provide specialist treatment, research programs, and support services for children with cancer and their families. The initiative also includes local club activity. Each NRL club has been paired with its nearby paediatric hospital to run community-focused events. Plans include player visits to children’s wards and inner sanctum or behind-the-scenes experiences for young patients on game days, linking fundraising to direct contact between clubs and hospitals.
Youi chief executive officer Nathaniel Simpson said the program fits within the insurer’s broader community approach. “At Youi, our team is on yours, and we’re big believers of the power of community. Supporting strong communities means giving back and investing in causes that genuinely affect the lives of everyday Australians. Cancer and serious illness impact countless families, which is why supporting Aussies through moments that matter is at the heart of who we are and what we stand for and why we’re so proud to partner on this initiative,” Simpson said. Supporters can also donate directly via the Kick for a Cause website, independent of match outcomes.
Youi’s rugby league partnership runs alongside its investment in Australian rules football through the Youi Fan House with the Brisbane Lions. For the 2026 AFL season, the insurer has introduced the Youi Fan House as an in-stadium area at the Gabba, located behind the eastern goalposts. The space is open at every Lions home game, including Round 0 against the Western Bulldogs, using the stadium’s verandah to provide behind-the-goals viewing, club memorabilia, and a dedicated section where supporters can watch the match together. As the Official Partner of Footy Fans and Principal Partner of the Brisbane Lions, Youi has described the Fan House as a place for fans of any club to gather and “share the atmosphere of live AFL together.”
Youi’s activity is part of a wider group of insurer-sport arrangements spanning elite and community levels this year. HCF has extended its principal partnership with GIANTS Netball through to 2028, taking the relationship to 10 seasons since the club entered Suncorp Super Netball in 2017. HCF will retain its position on the playing kit and its presence across match-day and digital platforms. QBE Insurance and the Sydney Swans are marking 40 years of partnership in 2026, now covering both AFL and AFLW teams. The QBE Sydney Swans Academy, established in 2010, remains central as a pathway program for male and female footballers across New South Wales. The QBE Foundation-funded Goals for Good initiative will also continue, donating $1,000 for every goal scored at the Sydney Cricket Ground and having raised more than $400,000 for community organisations since 2018.
In regional and rural areas, WFI Insurance is presenting sponsor of Tour de Cure’s 2026 Signature Tour, a 1,400km charity ride from Canberra to Hobart that seeks to raise $2 million for cancer research, support, and prevention. More than 200 riders are travelling through towns including Jindabyne, Corryong, Ballarat, Geelong, Cradle Mountain, Launceston, and Swansea, with $10,000 directed each night to a local cancer charity. Suncorp brand AAMI is active in disability inclusion and football development. It again worked with NDIS-registered provider What Ability on an all-abilities day at AAMI Park in Melbourne, involving more than 350 people living with disability, as well as families, carers, and volunteers. AAMI has also agreed a new 2026 deal with WA Football as naming rights partner of the AAMI WA Football State Talent Program and premier partner of the WAFL, WAFLW, WAFL Colts, and junior football, including player grants, digital content, fan initiatives, and support for volunteer bibs.
Internationally, Allianz Group has signed a multi-year agreement with Italian tennis player Jannik Sinner, who becomes an Allianz global brand ambassador linked to The Jannik Sinner Foundation and the group’s existing sports portfolio, including its role as insurer of the Olympic and Paralympic Movements through 2032. In rugby union, Gallagher has expanded its Australian presence through a three-year principal partnership with the ACT Brumbies, covering the Swyftx Super Rugby Pacific side and the Super Rugby Women’s team through the 2028 season.
