Hockeyroos to Take on Spain in Five-Match Test Series

Hockey Australia yesterday announced the Perth will play host for a five-match Test Series between the Hockeyroos and Spain in January next year.

The Hockeyroos, who are currently ranked fourth in the world, will take on 11th ranked Spain in the Series which will play a crucial role in Australia’s preparations for the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

Hockeyroos Head Coach, Paul Gaudoin said “The Spain Test Series will be our first matche sin 2018 which is a big year for us, so it’s great to be able to play good opposition in Perth where we are based.”

“The recent tournaments we have played have given us a good opportunity to assess our playing group and we’ll soon announce our National Squad for 2018.”

“The Spain Test will be the first opportunity to bring those players together competitively for matches ahead of the Commonwealth Games and World Cup.” 

The Series against Spain comes two weeks after a four-match Test Series between the kookaburras and the Netherlands was announced, also to be held in Perth as well as Narrogin, in January and February. 

January next year will be the first time a National hockey side has played in Western Australia since May 2016, despite the fact that both teams are base din Perth.

Hockey WA CEO, Stuart Gilsenan said “It’s been a while since we’ve had international fixtures in Western Australia so we’re really excited to be back hosting such fantastic fixtures with some of the most exciting players in the world.”

“It’s a great coup for us to be able to host such high-quality fixtures like this one and the series against the Dutch at locations across the Perth metropolitan area and in Narrogin.”

The Hockeyroos will play two games at Guildford Grammar, two games at Warwick Hockey Centre and one game at the Perth Hockey Stadium in their Test Series against the Spanish, set to commence on the 15th of January. 

Hockeyroos v Spain Test Series Fixtures-

15/1 @ 6:30pm (AWST), Guildford Grammar

16/1 @ 6:30pm (AWST), Guildford Grammar

18/1 @ 6:30pm (AWST), Warwick Hockey Centre

20/1 @ 6:30pm (AWST), Perth Hockey Stadium

21/1 @ 6:30pm (AWST), Warwick Hockey Centre 

• Annika Lee-Jones