Newcastle and Hobart to host ‘home’ FIH Pro League matches
Published Wed 24 Aug 2022
The long awaited return of the Kookaburras and Hockeyroos to the International Hockey Federation (FIH) Pro League will see matches played in Newcastle and Hobart in Season 4 of the prestigious global competition.
The Hockeyroos, who recently claimed silver at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games and bronze at the FIH Women’s World Cup, will launch their FIH Pro League campaign in Newcastle from 10-15 February 2023 for a block of matches against Germany and China.
The matches at the Newcastle Hockey Centre will be the first internationals the Hockeyroos have played in New South Wales since February 2020.
This will be followed by the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medallists and world number one ranked Kookaburras joining the Hockeyroos in Hobart for a block of double headers from 28 February to 4 March.
Following these matches, both of Australia’s flagship national teams will play the remainder of their FIH Pro League Season 4 fixtures overseas.
The full FIH Pro League 2022-2023 match schedule is available here.
The Kookaburras and Hockeyroos did not compete in the last FIH Pro League season due to COVID related government travel restrictions in Australia when the tournament started.
“The Kookaburras and Hockeyroos are two of Australia’s most recognisable and successful national teams and they will make a welcome return to the FIH Pro League in 2023,” said Hockey Australia CEO David Pryles.
“It is fantastic to have the Hockeyroos scheduled to play in Newcastle, followed by Hobart welcoming the Kookaburras and Hockeyroos two weeks later.”
“We thank Destination NSW and Events Tasmania for their support and enthusiasm in hosting these high quality international fixtures.”
As announced in March, the new FIH Pro League schedule is based on a series of ‘mini-tournaments’ where several teams gather in one venue to play two matches against each other.
This format will have a positive impact on players’ welfare and the environment, thanks to a substantial reduction in the amount of travel needed. The revised format also increases the availability for athletes to compete in their domestic leagues and club competitions.
Ticketing details for the matches in Newcastle and Hobart will be released in due course.
The FIH Pro League was introduced in 2019 and is a global tournament featuring the world’s best men’s and women’s hockey nations.
The Kookaburras won the inaugural edition and the Hockeyroos finished runners-up before the last two seasons were disrupted by COVID.
The FIH Pro League is broadcast in Australia on Fox Sports, available on Foxtel and Kayo.
FIH Pro League 2022-2023 Season
Hockeyroos matches
Newcastle, NSW
Friday 10 February 2023 v China
Sunday 12 February 2023 v Germany
Monday 13 February 2023 v China
Wednesday 15 February 2023 v Germany
Hobart, Tasmania
Tuesday 28 February 2023 v Argentina (double header with Kookaburras)
Wednesday 1 March 2023 v USA (double header with Kookaburras)
Friday 3 March 2023 v Argentina (double header with Kookaburras)
Saturday 4 March 2023 v USA (double header with Kookaburras)
New Zealand
Friday 21 April 2023 v Great Britain
Saturday 22 April 2023 v New Zealand (double header with Kookaburras)
Friday 28 April 2023 v Great Britain
Saturday 29 April 2023 v New Zealand (double header with Kookaburras)
Netherlands
Thursday 8 June 2023 v Netherlands
Sunday 11 June 2023 v Netherlands
Belgium
Friday 16 June 2023 v Belgium
Monday 19 June 2023 v Belgium
Kookaburras matches
Hobart, Tasmania
Tuesday 28 February 2023 v Argentina (double header with Hockeyroos)
Wednesday 1 March 2023 v Spain (double header with Hockeyroos)
Friday 3 March 2023 v Argentina (double header with Hockeyroos)
Saturday 4 March 2023 v Spain (double header with Hockeyroos)
India
Saturday 11 March 2023 v Germany
Sunday 12 March 2023 v India
Tuesday 14 March 2023 v Germany
Wednesday 15 March 2023 v India
New Zealand
Saturday 22 April 2023 v New Zealand (double header with Hockeyroos)
Sunday 23 April 2023 v Great Britain
Saturday 29 April 2023 v New Zealand (double header with Hockeyroos)
Sunday 30 April 2023 v Great Britain
Netherlands
Friday 9 June 2023 v Netherlands
Monday 12 June 2023 v Netherlands
Belgium
Saturday 17 June 2023 v Belgium
Tuesday 20 June 2023 v Belgium
About the FIH Pro League
The FIH Hockey Pro League is an annual global home and away league involving the world’s best men’s and women’s hockey nations. The best team of the season – having accumulated the highest number of points at the end of the League - is crowned Champion and receives the FIH Hockey Pro League Trophy. The first edition of the FIH Pro League was in 2019. The Kookaburras won the inaugural Men’s competition and the Hockeyroos finished runners up. More information on the FIH Pro League.
