Scotsman Dr Euan Speirits will provide medical cover for the Tall Blacks as they continue their 2027 World Cup qualifying campaign — they next play away games against the Philippines on February 26 and Guam on March 1.
An ex-pro mountainbiker, the 35-year-old was formerly athlete doctor for the Crankworx World Tour and still works with selected mountainbikers.
Speirits, who heads up Queenstown Medical Centre’s musculoskeletal clinic, has also played UK premier basketball.
He captained the University of Glasgow who played in the British premier division.
"We were the highest-performing team of any varsity sport in Scotland, which was a huge honour."
He stepped back from basketball after developing a hip issue that required surgery and moved more into mountainbiking.
However, he has renewed his interest in the sport since moving to Queenstown four years ago and played for the Whakatipu team who won the inaugural Central-Lakes Te Waka league last year.
Speirits said it was "a huge honour" to become the doctor for the Tall Blacks.
He anticipated doing some on-court training with them.
"I think a big part of the reason my medical role with mountainbikers has worked is because they know I rode a bike, so similarly with basketball.
"I think it’s a mark of respect for the athletes you work with that you demonstrate really good knowledge of their sport."
He said basketball was associated with lots of ankle, knee and hip injuries.
"It’s a contact sport, despite what many people think, and I finish every game covered in bruises — it’s not for the faint-hearted."
His role, though, would not only focus on injuries but also mental health and medical needs in general.
If the Tall Blacks did well in away and home games against the Philippines and Guam, "we will likely be merged in a group featuring Iraq, Iran, Syria and Jordan, based on whoever comes out on top there, so I’ll be looking to do tours with them later in the year as well".
