22 September; Peter Walker
2026 Sporting Captains announced
The University has announced its Sporting Captains for 2026; Leila Davis (Basketball, Bachelor of Science) and Miles Cowton (Lacrosse, Master of Mechanical Engineering) will lead Melbourne's teams at Uni Nationals in Perth this year, with 227 student-athletes across 25 teams set to compete during the week.
Leila Davis enters the role having represented the University at multiple Uni Nationals, including the 2024 campaign that won a gold medal. Reflecting on the appointment, Leila said the honour is one she doesn't take for granted.
"Melbourne is full of incredible athletes, so to be given the opportunity to lead such a talented group means a great deal to me, and it's something I don't take lightly. I've always admired the captains who have held this role in previous years, so to even be considered for the captaincy feels incredibly special."
Asked about her standout Uni Nationals memory, Leila pointed to that 2024 gold medal - though she was quick to note the competition itself is only part of the appeal.
"I come home from every Uni Nationals thinking 'That was the best week ever'... it's hard to go past winning the gold medal in 2024 after coming so close the year before! Aside from the basketball, though, it's the bus rides, team dinners and new friendships that I love most about Uni Nationals."
Leila is hoping to bring the same values that have defined her own sporting career to the captaincy, describing herself as a leader who prefers to let her actions do the talking.
"I've always strived to be a captain who lets their actions speak the loudest. I want to lead by example and encourage confidence through working hard and preparing well. This captaincy is much bigger than just my own team, so I hope to be someone who is approachable to athletes from every sport, and who helps create a university sport culture that people genuinely want to keep being part of."
Joining Leila as Sporting Captain is Miles Cowton, who is entering his fifth year competing at Intervarsity. Miles said the call confirming his selection came as a surprise, and one that carries real weight given the captains who've come before him.
"I've been at the University for nearly five years now and have competed at the Intervarsity events in every one. It's been a tumultuous ride at times, with breakthrough wins, devastating losses, and plenty of friends made along the way from all over Australia. But the one enduring presence was that of our previous captains... these students, not much older than I, had taken on such a responsibility — to the University and their peers alike — to embody the sporting spirit of the University of Melbourne. To find myself standing in those large shoes is a special moment for me."
Like Leila, Miles' standout Uni Nationals memory is a gold medal — his coming on the Gold Coast in 2023, in a rematch final against RMIT that capped off a graduating squad's final campaign together.
"The entire week of competition was building to a rematch of the 2022 final, with Melbourne and RMIT ending pool play undefeated. Winning the event against our on-court rivals was momentous, as most of our team were graduating that year... the accolades were important, but upon reflection, most of the meaning came from those around me — wanting to perform for them, seeing their elation, and playing alongside so many close friends."
On what kind of captain he hopes to be, Miles pointed to approachability above all else.
"One of the best qualities any leader can possess is approachability. Despite being seemingly trivial to achieve, it takes more than just being kind. You must be dependable, present, available, and constructive to those around you, and take an interest in everyone and their ideas... I pride myself on upholding these values within my own club, and I want to ensure I can be an approachable and accessible captain for all University of Melbourne athletes across every sport this year."
Both captains were united in their message to students considering getting involved in Intervarsity sport for the first time. As Leila put it, it's "such a great outlet from the inevitable stresses of uni," offering the chance to "meet people you otherwise may never have crossed paths with, while representing one of the best universities in the country." Miles echoed the sentiment, noting that while representing the University is "a scintillating feeling," the shared passion and lifelong friendships are what keep athletes coming back year after year.
Uni Nationals starts on Saturday 26 September. Follow MU Sport’s Instagram for updates from Perth during the week.
