HOCKEY QUEENSLAND SEND WOMEN’S DEVELOPMENT TEAM TO SHANGHAI

Sixteen of Queensland’s most promising female hockey players will also have the opportunity to gain valuable international match and touring experience when they travel to Shanghai, China next month.

The tour to Shanghai has been made possible through Hockey Queensland’s collaboration with contacts in China supplied by world-renowned Queensland umpire Jan Hadfield.

In Shanghai the Queensland side will compete in test matches against the Shanghai open women’s team and also Chinese national under age women’s teams.

Sunshine Coast Hockey’s Regional Coaching Director Greg Richards will coach the Queensland girls on the tour.

Greg said he was excited to be taking the team to a new destination.

“I coached the development team on tours to NZ in ’09 and again last year which were both great. It will be great fun and great experience for the girls to be exposed to new playing conditions and teams this year though.”

Greg also said the team is made up of players of a range of ages and experience.

“We have players who are yet to represent Queensland at under 18 level and players who have taken the field for the Scorchers,” he said.

“Our first training session all together will be when we arrive in Shanghai, but I am confident that the team will come together well. The girls may not have played together much but they have one important thing in common – the will to improve and push themselves to developing into the best players they can be.”