Creating work-life balance and fostering community outside of work can seem like a challenge with high-intensity careers such as policing – but not when there’s opportunities within the WA Police Force to build fitness, engage in sport and find your people.
The WA Police Sports Federation (WAPSF) is host to 10 club teams, covering sports from AFL to Bowling to Triathlon. Aiming to enhance the physical health and fitness of all members of the WA Police Force community, over 2,000 members are part of the WAPSF’s various sporting teams, connecting people from across the state through a shared love of their sports.
Strengthening participation in sport and recreational activities, as well as giving Police Officers the opportunity to connect and experience teamwork outside of the job, the WA Police Force sporting teams see members represent Western Australia on a local, national and global state, playing against police teams from other states and countries. As well as entering in local competitions or going head-to-head with other emergency services, teams travel throughout Australia and beyond, representing the WA Police Force as they come up against Police, Defence Force and Emergency Services teams.
For WA Police’s Cricket team, the Numbats, their involvement in sport is taking them international. The team began 30 years ago, as they competed against travelling English Police Officers, and has evolved into an internationally-dominant team. While domestically the side plays T10, including holding the title of the Champions of the T10 Mediterranean Tournament hosted in Perth in 2024, the Numbats play both long form and T20 internationally, holding the title of World Police Cricket T20 Champions following their tour to Cape Town, South Africa, runners up in the Mediterranean Cricket League, hosted in Split, Croatia, and have previously held titles from the bi-annual Australian & New Zealand Police Cricket Championships (ANZPCC) Cricket Tournament.
Numbats’ Club President, Brevet Senior Sergeant Michael Segman, shared that participating in clubs such as the Numbats is a great way to meet other people, with officers from different jurisdictions and support personnel coming together through a joint passion about their sports.
“Everyone needs a stress relief from work, so to be able to join and become a part of a sporting team is the perfect way to make new friends and let off a bit of steam whilst participating in a sport that you enjoy.”
Brevet S/Sergeant Segman also shared it provides the opportunity for players to travel, not just around Australia but internationally, with their recent trip to Split giving the Numbats the chance to meet people from across the globe who all enjoy the same sport.
“Travelling to Split recently really gave us the opportunity to meet people from all walks of life who just enjoy the game of cricket. The friendships you make on these tours can last a lifetime.”
In 2026, the Numbats will attend the annual ANZPCC Cricket Tournament in Canberra in November, celebrating the tournament’s 50th Year Anniversary.
There are many other sports beyond Australia’s favourite pastime that WA Police Officers can join, with teams creating a lasting legacy on their sport both locally and throughout the nation.
WA Police Force features some of the best Police Australian Rules Football sides in the nation. The AFLW side, the Quokkas, took out the title at the National Police Football Championships in 2025, defeating South Australia to lift the trophy. With six players being selected in the All-Australian team, the Quokkas have consistently been a formidable side since their establishment in 2019. Alongside them, the men’s side, the WA Hogs, have lifted the National Police Football Championship trophy four times, with their most recent victory being in 2023. With the Championships being hosted in Tasmania in 2026, both the Hogs and the Quokkas will be on the lookout for another piece of silverware to add to their growing cabinet.
The game played in heaven, and around the globe, the Western Wasps are the WA Police Force’s Rugby Union side, currently sitting as the reigning Premiers of the Australian Police Rugby Union Championships (APRU) Championships, as well as the recently relaunched RugbyWA Country Championships. While not competing regularly in the local competition, the Wasps are regular titleholders of battles between Police and Military, including the Dreiberg-Hughes Cup and Conradt-Hughes Cup, as well as featured participants in the annual Bloody Slow Cup tournament. The Wasps will be looking for back-to-back titles at the APRU Championships in Newcastle, New South Wales, in September.
Beyond club teams, there’s even more to look forward to in the sporting space, with the World Police and Fire Games arriving in Western Australia in 2027. Cricket and Rugby Union are among the 80+ sports being represented in the 10-day event, which sees 8,500 active, volunteer and retired law enforcement and emergency services personnel from all over the world come together, right in WA’s backyard.
Be part of something more with the Western Australia Police Force. Kick off your career here.