Hockey Australia (HA) and the International Hockey Federation (FIH) have confirmed that Tasmania is one of the four Australian venues set to host the inaugural Hockey Pro League in 2019. Hobart, Melbourne and Sydney are three of four venues that will all host matches in the Pro League which pits the world’s nine best men’s and women’s teams against each other on a home-and-away basis.
Hobart’s Tasmanian Hockey Centre will host games on Saturday-Sunday 9-10 February with the Hockeyroos playing against China and Germany and the Kookaburras to meet Pakistan and Germany. The matches will mark the first international hockey in Tasmania since May 2015.
HA Chief Executive Matt Favier said: “We’re delighted to confirm the three Australian host venues for the inaugural edition of the Pro League where the best in the world meet off in an exciting league format. “It’s exciting to have Hobart host international hockey for the first time since 2015, while we’re thrilled to once again bring elite international hockey in Melbourne and Sydney.”
Hockey Tasmania chair 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.” Hockey Tasmania General Manager Bob Gregory added: “We would like to thank the State Government and Events Tasmania for their support that will allow us to host games of a global competition here in Tasmania.”
“It will be wonderful to see our Tasmanian players in the Australian colours,” he said. “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, with national stadiums hosting matches week in, week out. The top four teams will then compete to determine the winner in a Grand Final later in June
The Hockey Pro League features an equally amazing line-up of nations, with both the Women’s and Men’s Leagues featuring a glittering array of the finest international hockey teams on earth.
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.
