Last week in international hockey

More selections announced for Paris 2024

Last week in international hockey

• Kotahitanga is the word of the day for the Blacksticks

• Bold choices by Paul Revington for Team GB

• GB women take 3 gold medal winners to Paris

• Delmee decided on the Dutch Paris selection

• India’s coach Fulton: We have a strong mix of players who are capable of winning anything

• Ten players return from the SA squad that shocked Germany in Tokyo in 2021

• Adam Commens talks to Shane McLeod

• Everything revolves around Paris

• Australia secure a spot for the World Cup

Kotahitanga is the word of the day for the Blacksticks

New Zealand will begin their Olympic campaign against India, July 28, before also facing defending champions Belgium, Australia, Argentina, and Ireland in the pool stage.

The side will feature two athletes at their fourth Olympic Games (Hugo Inglis, Simon Child) and six at their first, showcasing a good blend of experience and youth which has been developed over the last three years, culminating in the team’s impressive tournament victory at the FIH Nations Cup in Poland earlier this month.

Greg Nicol - Credits Worldsportpics / Frank Uijlenbroek

Head Coach Greg Nicol says the team is peaking at the right time with a lot of work having been done to get Games ready.

“We have worked exceptionally hard to get ourselves to the physical level we need to be at, but we have also worked hard on supporting each other on and off the pitch,” said Nicol.

“One of our themes is kotahitanga - unity - and the notion that we are all climbing this mountain together and are helping each other become the best versions of ourselves.”

Nic Woods has been named to captain the team and agrees they're in a good space and coming into the Games on form.

“We will definitely be the underdogs but we relish the challenge and opportunity to try and do something truly special.”

Team members were presented with their playing kit by members of New Zealand’s gold medal winning hockey team from the Montreal 1976 Olympic Games. The kit features a homage to the 1976 side, featuring the names of the athletes inside the shirt, as well as a similar design to that worn in Montreal.

Click here to see the full selection for Paris.

Bold choices by Paul Revington for Team GB

David Ames, captain, and Sam Ward will represent Team GB for a third time. With Draper, Shipperley, Roper, Payne, Waller and Sanford selected for their second Games. Seven men are making their Olympic debut. Some notable players left out from the selection were Creed, Gall and the more spectacular striker Bandurak.

Paul Revington - Credits Worldsportpics/Frank Uijlenbroek