Hockey: Three NZers turnout for Waveriders

Simon Child.
Simon Child.
The New Zealand contingent is poised for the 2016 Hockey India League, which gets under way on Tuesday morning (NZ time).

Three Kiwis will take to the turf this season.

Black Sticks captain Simon Child, goalkeeper Devon Manchester and Steve Edwards are all playing for the Delhi Waveriders.

Defender Nick Haig and midfielder Shea McAleese were also taken in September's player auction but have since withdrawn from the league, which runs until February 22.

Child, who will captain the Waveriders, said: "This is a new team and we are still working on our strategies and are hopeful of a great performance this year.''

Black Sticks Women's head coach Mark Hager will gain valuable experience at the helm of the Kalinga Lancers.

Hager's side is led by German midfielder Moritz Fuerste, who attracted the league's highest bid of $US105,000.

Former Black Sticks Women's assistant coach Greg Nicol is also undertaking the assistant role for Dabang Mumbai.

This year's edition of the league has new rules. Field goals are worth two goals and penalty corners just one.

The Ranchi Rays won last year's championship with a 3-2 win over the Jaypee Punjab Warriors in the final.

The tournament, featuring the world's best talent, will involve 34 matches played across six cities among six franchise teams: Jaypee Punjab Warriors, Delhi Waveriders, Kalinga Lancers, Uttar Pradesh Wizards, Dabang Mumbai and Ranchi Rays.

The tournament will also be one of the last opportunities for the teams and players to test their mettle against each other before the Olympics.

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