Australia Names Men's Team for Petanque World Championship
Petanque Australia has named four players and coach Michael Lacase for the men's world championship at Khon Kaen University, Thailand, in November.
Kierran Clarke, Guillaume Ramond, Bronson Romani and Frederick Vencatasamy: those are the names on the Australian sheet, published on 18 April, seven months before the opening day. The event is the triples and precision shooting competition.
A squad of four, with one absence
A fifth player was in the frame. Sachin Teeka was selected but cannot attend, which leaves the four names above. The federation thanked Neil Brown and the selection panel for their work, without describing the criteria they applied or how the players were ranked. Its announcement presents the group as a mix of experience, technical skill and composure. The page lists the Australian Sports Foundation, Sports Integrity Australia, the Australian Sports Commission, Choice Hotels and MyPetanque.com among the federation's partners.
When the tournament starts and where
Both sources agree on the venue and the start. The host, Khon Kaen University, runs the 52nd World Pétanque Championship for Men's Teams from 20 November 2026. They differ on the end: the university's own site gives 24 November, Petanque Australia's announcement gives 25 November. Check the host's fixtures page before booking travel, because a day's difference changes the return flight. The nearest airport, Khon Kaen Airport, is about 15 minutes from the venue.
The practical details published so far come down to a handful of figures:
- 52nd edition of the men's world championship
- 48 participating countries, according to the host website
- 4 players selected by Australia, plus 1 coach
- 20 November: opening day
- 100 free places a day for students and children, advance registration required
Tickets and rooms in Khon Kaen
The host sells daily passes, tournament passes and VIP passes. Students and children get free entry, limited to 100 places a day with advance registration. Accommodation is already tight: Bayasita @KKU and Xotel Hotel are fully booked, while The Avani Hotel and The Heritage Grand Hotel still had rooms when the site was consulted. The tournament mascot is Boon, designed by KKU student Kantisa Thongjarat.
Sources : Petanque Australia, KKU Petanque World 2026
