Share

SA men ready for Euro tour

Johannesburg - The South African men's hockey team look forward to getting back on the field after more than a month of training, defender Rhett Halkett said on Wednesday.

The national men's side begin their final preparations ahead the London Olympics when they depart for Europe on Monday.

"We've been training hard in the gym and pushing each other, so I think the guys will be excited to be on the field again," Halkett said.

"For us it's a time to gel together and time to get back to the field, enjoying playing for SA.

"The most exciting thing for us is the chance to play some international hockey before we go to the Olympics."

The South Africans will take part in the four-day Celtic Cup tournament - along with Ireland, Scotland and Wales - starting on June 28 at the Lisnagarvey Hockey Club in Ireland.

They will then face Ireland and Belgium in a four-day Test series starting on July 2.

The SA squad complete their European tour with a trip to Santander where they will play two Tests against India and one Test against hosts Spain, who have been drawn in the same group as the South Africans for the Games.

Halkett said it was encouraging to be able to play against the Spanish outfit before they square up against them at the Olympics, as it gave the management team some much needed information about their European counterparts.

"It's good to be able to play against a strong Spanish side," he said.

"We will look to take as much as we can from that game and to put ourselves in a good place before meeting them in London."

The South Africans have quietly been going about their preparations, having recently completed a strength and conditioning camp in Bloemfontein.

They last played a match at the Olympic qualifying tournament in Japan in May.

Halkett said the team reacted well to the training camp, having been put through their paces by Dr Derick Coetzee.

"Doc Derick really pushed us hard but we could immediately see the benefits," Halkett said.

"To see the benefit of all the hard work we've put in is fantastic. Now it's time to go back to hockey.

"Playing these Tests is a chance to put the last details into place before we go off to the real deal [London Olympics] next month."

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Should Siya Kolisi keep the captaincy as the Springboks build towards their World Cup title defence in 2027?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
Yes! Siya will only be 36 at the next World Cup. He can make it!
26% - 1273 votes
No! I think the smart thing to do is start again with a younger skipper ...
29% - 1470 votes
I'd keep Siya captain for now, but look to have someone else for 2027.
45% - 2249 votes
Vote
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE