International hockey is returning to Tasmania with Australia set to play men’s and women’s matches in Hobart this summer.
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Tasmania is one of four Australian venues set to host the inaugural Hockey Pro League in 2019.
The Tasmanian Hockey Centre will host the international weekend on Saturday, February 9, when the Kookaburras play Pakistan and Hockeyroos take on China, and Sunday, February 10 when both teams face Germany.
Melbourne and Sydney are also confirmed venues for the competition which pits the world’s nine best men’s and women’s teams against each other on a home-and-away basis.
The matches will mark the first international hockey in Tasmania since May 2015.
Hockey Tasmania chairman Ken Read said: “This is a big coup for Tasmania. We will see the best Tasmanians playing for Australia. It will lift the profile of the sport here and give our youth access to role models.”
General manager Bob Gregory added: “This will be a massive opportunity to show off Tasmania to the world through the broadcast coverage.”
Teams will play eight home and eight away matches throughout the first six months of every year. The top four teams will then compete to determine the winner in a grand final in June.
The Women’s League will see Argentina, Australia, Belgium, China, Great Britain, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand and USA all going head to head, while Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Great Britain, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Pakistan and Spain will be fighting it out for the men's title.
Rob Shaw
Heralding the impact of Tasmanian sport without saying "punching above its weight" is not as easy as it sounds.
Heralding the impact of Tasmanian sport without saying "punching above its weight" is not as easy as it sounds.
