VANTAGE BLACK STICKS WOMEN WITHDRAW FROM 2024 PRO LEAGUE
Hockey New Zealand (HNZ) has agreed with the International Hockey Federation (FIH), that despite qualifying, the Vantage Black Sticks Women (VBSW) will not compete in Season 5 of the Hockey Pro League (HPL), commencing December 2023.
“As a founding participating nation in the league, this was a difficult decision for us, but the right one to ensure we are best placed to qualify and prepare for the most important event in our calendar, the Olympic Games,” said HNZ CEO Anthony Crummy.
“The doubling of travel costs in a post-Covid environment, and the volume of travel coupled with the timing of Season 5’s events in a busy 2024 meant it’s just not possible to participate in Pro-League while qualifying and adequately preparing for the Olympics.”
Earlier this year, the FIH committed to promotion/relegation which saw the VBS Men relegated for Season 5 of the HPL after finishing last in Season 4. Alongside the VBSW programme, HNZ will continue to support the VBSM as they follow a similar path in the build up to Paris 2024.
“We will build an exciting programme for our teams and we’re looking to forward to engaging with our fans, partners and supporters through international and domestic events, and we will revisit our Pro League participation beyond 2024,” said Crummy.
In a revised format, Season 5 of the HPL will feature seven “mini-tournaments” running from end 2023 to mid-2024. This format would have seen the VBSW play in three mini-tournaments, all away-from-home in India and Europe.
In addition, should the VBSW not defend their Oceania Cup title in Whangarei in August, the team would be required to travel to Spain or China for an Olympic qualifying event in January while the Vantage Black Sticks Men would head to Spain or Pakistan.
The New Zealand Hockey Players Association Executive Manager Glen Sulzberger said that even though the players are disappointed, they understand the reasons for the withdrawl.
“The players are naturally disappointed with this decision, with the women having worked so hard during the recent European matches to finish 8th in Pro League. We understand the challenge that Pro League presents and look forward to working together with HNZ to confirm both programmes for the next 12 months.
While this will be a change from recent years, we know that it will ultimately provide both teams with the best possible programme through to the Olympics. But for now, the players focus is firmly on the goal of qualification at the upcoming Oceania Cup.”
Successful qualification for the Olympics will see the squads seek high-level international competition in the lead-up to Paris, likely in July, which sits outside the Season 5 window.