The importance of community takes centre stage in the artwork on the 2026 Indigenous All Stars jerseys, with the piece celebrating a deep-rooted sense of connection to family, kinship and the land.
Created by 2026 Indigenous All Stars jersey competition winner Shantelle Matthews, the design will adorn the jerseys of both the men’s and women’s Indigenous All Stars teams when they take to the field at Hamilton, Aotearoa New Zealand next year.
A proud Gamilaroi Muruwari Dunghutti woman born and raised on Darug Country; Matthews has taken care to ensure both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures are featured, with the artwork highlighting the “cultural connection that defines their way of life”.
Matthews has achieved this by the striking incorporation of two primary colour schemes, with the warmer blend of red, yellow and orange tones representing Aboriginal cultures meeting with the cooler shades of blue that represent Torres Strait Islander culture.
There is also a delineation between men’s business and women’s business in each of the meeting places, which is observed by both cultures.
The depiction of meeting places also instantly highlights the importance of community, with the meeting places themed with their colour schemes.
With her style of art influenced by the knowledge of her Elders and other significant people in her life, handprints have been included to symbolise Elders who pass down their knowledge.
Other key points celebrate a shared connection to land, sea and sky including the significance of animals like the kangaroo and shark and plants, as well as the coral that adorn our reefs.
The Māori All Stars jerseys also tell an important story, with next year’s All Stars event taking on even great meaning in 2026, with the games being played in Aotearoa for only the second time in history.
The jersey, designed by artist David Panapa, holds many design features held in high importance to Māori peoples, including the Koru, Hei Tiki and Taiaha.
The Koru represents the spirit of growth, harmony and life; weaving together different threads of Māori culture to create a powerful symbol of unity, heritage and identity.
The Hei Tiki is a powerful symbol that represents meaningful connections and a deep sense of appreciation with its recipients.
The Taiaha – a traditional weapon sued in close-quarter combat – offers protection and is a symbol of the resilience of the Māori people.
The jersey also features the incorporation of the Tino Rangatiratanga flag, which cloaks Māori people together. It is filled with deep meaning that can be translated as self-determination, sovereignty and Māori independence.
In preparation for next year’s significant NRL All Stars celebration; fans can pre-order the NRL Indigenous All Stars and NRL Māori All Stars jerseys from the NRL All Stars – NRL Shop.
