Hockey schedule and pools released for 2022 Commonwealth Games

The Kookaburras and Hockeyroos have learnt their opponents for the Pool Stage of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games after the official hockey schedule was released.

Australia’s flagship national hockey teams have three of the same countries in their pool – Scotland, New Zealand and South Africa.

The other opponent in the Kookaburras’ pool is Pakistan, while Kenya rounds out the Hockeyroos’ pool.

The Hockeyroos open their campaign against Kenya on Saturday 30 July at 11:00pm AEST.

The Kookaburras’ first up opponent is Scotland on Sunday 31 July at 6:00pm AEST.

“We have been eagerly waiting the announcement of the Pools and the schedule, so now we can start our finer planning,” said Batch.

“We’re excited to play at the Commonwealth Games. It’s a tournament we have done well in and we’re looking forward to the opportunity of playing the four teams we have been drawn against.”

“With the Commonwealth Games you meet teams that you may not have played against for some time and Scotland is one of those. Playing them first up we will be diligent in our preparation.

“New Zealand we know about…they will have some changes from Tokyo last year, and Pakistan are an unknown. They weren’t in Tokyo and will be keen to perform well at this level.

“South Africa had some surprise results in Tokyo so I feel we know as much about them as any of the other teams…and they have also being playing Pro League so that will be something for us to sink our teeth into when we do our scouting.”

Batch also said there would be no added pressure within the squad heading into the tournament despite the Kookaburras’ near flawless Commonwealth Games record.

The Kookaburras, who are currently ranked number one in the world, have won every Commonwealth Games gold medal on offer since hockey was introduced to the event in 1998.

“For others outside the team it probably does (have added pressure) but we will have a number of players who haven’t been to the Commonwealth Games,” said Batch.

“The way we approach it is this is a tournament to win…rather than getting too caught up with the history.

“It’s something to look forward to…it will be our major tournament for this year and we are building nicely towards it.”

The Hockeyroos have won four of six available Commonwealth Games gold medals. In 2018 they were edged out by New Zealand in the gold medal match and will meet their fierce Trans-Tasman rivals in the Pool Stage.

“It’s fantastic to know who we are going to come up against and when we are going to play and how the tournament is mapped out,” said Hockeyroos Head Coach Katrina Powell, who won gold at the 1998 Commonwealth Games and was an Assistant Coach for the team at the 2018 Games on the Gold Coast.

“Of the teams in our pool, Scotland and Kenya will be more of the unknowns. We played South Africa in a practise match before last year’s Olympics so we have seen a little bit of them and they are also in our World Cup pool so we will have faced them not long prior to the Commonwealth Games starting.”

“I’m really keen for that rematch from 2018 against New Zealand. A Commonwealth Games silver medal is a great achievement but we want to beat our cousins from New Zealand every opportunity we get to play them.”

The top two teams from each pool progress to the semi finals.

The final of the women’s event will be held on Sunday 7 August and will be part of a super Sunday for women’s sport at the Games, with the final of the netball tournament and the final of the first ever Commonwealth Games women’s cricket T20 tournament being held on the same day.

The men’s gold medal match will be played on Monday 8 August, just a few hours before the Closing Ceremony.

There will be 54 hockey matches in total, with 40 group games, six classification matches, four semi-finals, four medal matches and all of these matches will be played at the University of a Birmingham, the official competition venue for hockey at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

To be in the stands in Birmingham supporting the Australian Team, for the first time Australian families and fans will be able to access group tickets for all events at the Commonwealth Games.

The Family & Fans Tour ensures Australian families and fans can sit and cheer together, stay together and play together at the Birmingham Games. Bookings are now open.

Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games schedule
Kookaburras Pool Matches
v Scotland
Sunday 31 July (9:00am – 12:30pm local), 6:00pm – 9:30pm AEST

v New Zealand
Monday 1 August (7:00pm – 10:30pm local), Tuesday 2 August 4:00am – 7:30am AEST

v South Africa
Wednesday 3 August (7:00pm – 10:30pm local), Thursday 4 August 4:00am– 7:30am AEST

v Pakistan
Thursday 4 August (7:00pm – 10:30pm local), Friday 5 August 4:00am – 7:30am AEST

Semi-Finals
Saturday 6 August (6:00pm – 10:30pm local), Sunday 7 August 3:00am – 7:30am AEST

Bronze Medal Match
Monday 8 August (9:00am – 11:30am local), 6:00pm – 8:30pm AEST

Gold Medal Match
Monday 8 August (12:30pm – 3:00pm local), Tuesday 9 August 9:30pm – 12:30am AEST

Hockeyroos Pool Matches
v Kenya
Saturday 30 July (2:00pm – 5:30pm local), 11:00pm – 2:30am AEST

v South Africa
Sunday 31 July (7:00pm – 10:30pm local), Monday 1 August 4:00am – 7:30am AEST

v New Zealand
Tuesday 2 August (9:00am – 12:30pm local), 6:00pm – 9:30pm AEST

v Scotland
Wednesday 3 August (9:00am – 12:30pm local), 6:00pm – 9:30pm AEST

Semi-Finals
Friday 5 August (6:00pm – 10:30pm local), Saturday 6 August 3:00am – 7:30am AEST

Bronze Medal Match
Sunday 7 August (9:00am – 2:00pm local), 6:00pm – 11:00pm AEST

Gold Medal Match
Sunday 7 August (3:00pm – 8:00pm local), Monday 8 August 12:00am – 5:00am AEST

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