The names of the 18 players selected to represent South Africa for the World League Round 2 men’s hockey tournament scheduled for Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from February 27 to March 5 was released by the SA Hockey Association at the conclusion of the national training camp in Cape Town Saturday.
The SA team will be captained by Rhett Halkett and will tackle Brazil, tournament favourites Argentina, Trinidad and Tobago, Chile and the USA.
The top two teams at the conclusion of the Rio round-robin tournament will qualify for the World League men’s semi-finals, which will take place in Rotterdam, Holland from June 13 to 23, and in Johor Bahru, Malaysia from June 29-July 7.
Depending on where they are placed in the world rankings at the conclusion of the World League round two tournaments will determine which city the top two teams in Rio will be flying to for those semi-final events.
A South Africa “A” side was also announced, which will form part of the greater SA squad.
SOUTH AFRICA MEN’S HOCKEY TEAM FOR RIO
Miguel da Graca, Pierre de Voux, Tim Drummond, Jethro Eustice, Ashlin Freddy, Matt Guise-Brown, Craig Haley, Rhett Halkett (capt), Julian Hykes, Gowan Jones, Lloyd Norris-Jones, Taine Paton, Clint Panther, Rassie Pieterse, Jonty Robinson, Austin Smith, Ricky West, Oliver Whitely.
Non-travelling reserves for Rio: Dylan Coombs, Taylor Dart, Brandon Panther, Michael Smith, Dylan Swanepoel, Clive Terwin.
South Africa “A” side (which will make up the greater squad): Dylan Coombs, Taylor Dart, Matt Fairweather, Geowynne Gamiet, Grant Glutz, Gareth Heynes, Jody Hosking, Robin Jones, Jacques le Roux, Mohamed Mea, Owen Mvimbi, Brandon Panther, Keegan Robinson, Daniel Sibbald, Nic Spooner, Michael Smith, Dylan Swanepoel, Clive Terwin.
Non travelling South Africa “A” reserves: Daniel Bell, Brynn Cleak, Nic Gonsalves, Ignatius Malgraff, Andrew Manson, Chris Rembe, Grant Robertson, Greg Last.
SA Hockey Association Media Release