Talk about a whirlwind rise to the top. Hugo Inglis' head has hardly stopped spinning since he made his debut for the Black Sticks.
Two years ago, Inglis was a quiet senior at Otago Boys' High School, leading one of the finest hockey teams in the school's history to a shock place in the elite Rankin Cup final.
Now, he's a regular member of the New Zealand team, and the last few months have been a frenzy of travel, games against top nations, and more travel.
"I've played 33 games in eight or nine months, I guess. It's gone pretty quick," Inglis said.
"We started in Invercargill, then Argentina, then we went to India, then England, Belgium, France, Germany and finally Holland.
"It's been a pretty amazing time. The whole thing has been awesome."
Inglis, a striker, has had a handful of starts and has also seen plenty of time off the bench as a back-up for more experienced players up front.
He has scored six goals but is hungry for more to ensure he keeps getting selected for major tournaments such as the World Cup, the Champions Trophy and the Commonwealth Games.
"I've seen a few players come and go from the team, and it feels good to have kept my place. But I've got to keep working hard, and I'd like to put a few more balls in the net."
Inglis has been joined in the Black Sticks by another Otago Boys' High School old boy, Blair Tarrant.
Inglis is studying two business papers by correspondence through Massey University. He started with law but found it too difficult to juggle the course with his training and touring schedule.
Hockey players are in a sort of limbo in New Zealand. Expected to train and play like professionals, they do not earn a professional wage, and only some trips are fully funded.
Inglis, who is working on sponsorship proposals to support him while he plays, conceded it was difficult at times to focus on the turf wars while worrying about paying the bills.
"It puts some pressure on. But then you get out on the park and hear the national anthem, and it's an amazing feeling."
Inglis has already played in India - he was there for the World Cup in March - so he knows what to expect when the Games start in October.
The Black Sticks had top-class security arrangements and he was not concerned about the perceived risk of playing in Delhi, he said.
The New Zealand men won a silver medal at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, and are ranked third in the Commonwealth.
"If we don't come back with a medal, we'll be pretty disappointed," Inglis said.
"Australia are looking very strong. I've played them three times and I think we lost 9-1, 4-2 and 6-2.
"Our key game is England in pool play. If we can qualify top, we'd be looking at Pakistan or India in the semifinal, then hopefully the final."
Games profile: Hugo Inglis
- Age: 19
- Sport: Hockey
- Venue: Major Dhyan Chand National Stadium
- Schedule: Oct 5, v Trinidad & Tobago; Oct 6, v South Africa; Oct 9, v England; Oct 10, v Canada; Oct 12, semifinal; Oct 14, final.
