Junior World Cup pools drawn

The Future Black Sticks programme is excited about the upcoming Junior World Cups in Chile (Women) and (Malaysia), following the pool announcements, where New Zealand's Under 21 sides will compete.

The draw, held earlier this week, placed the New Zealand U21 Men's team in a challenging group alongside Belgium, the Netherlands, and Pakistan.

On the Women's side, the Kiwis were drawn against Japan, the USA, and England.

Reacting to the draw, Simon Brill, Performance Network Manager, noted that the line-up offered a great challenge and an opportunity to shine on the international stage.

"We are excited about the pool announcement," he said. "Our squads are up against strong opponents, but it provides a terrific platform to showcase our progress and the depth of young talent we have here in New Zealand."

The Belgian men's team comes from a programme that delivered Olympic Gold. The Dutch also bring a wealth of hockey pedigree, and Pakistan has a rich hockey history, making this pool a proverbial 'group of death'.

Meanwhile, the women's side faces a diverse group of competitors. England, with its strong history in women's hockey, Japan's technical prowess, and the USA's competitive spirit, will be sure to offer the New Zealand U21s a unique set of challenges.

The women’s Junior World Cup takes place November 29 and December 10 with the men playing from December 5 to 16.