Tauranga defender Andy Hayward will be looking to add to his Commonwealth Games bronze after securing a spot in the New Zealand men's hockey team for this year's games in Glasgow.

Hayward, a mainstay amongst the Black Sticks squad in recent years, was included in yesterday's announcement of the 16-strong squad – rounding out the New Zealand Olympic Committee's squad of 233 athletes for the games starting in two weeks.


The New Zealand Men's Hockey Team.

The Black Sticks snatched bronze from England in 2010 winning 5–3 on penalty strokes.

Ranked third in the Commonwealth, Black Sticks coach Colin Batch says the competition at last month's World Cup and training together in Auckland has meant the team is well prepared.

'We are in good shape, this is an experienced side and the team has been working hard. The aim is to return with a medal and I believe this is achievable if we perform to our best,” says Batch.

Amongst the squad are Northland's Shay Neal and Canterbury's Brad Shaw, receiving the call up following last month's FIH World Cup, while Devon Manchester will be the sole goalkeeper captained by veteran Dean Couzins.

Neal, 24, is Batch's bolter in the team, making an impressive recovery having had a serious hip operation in November.

Having been off the turf for a year, Neal is pleased his dedicated approach to rehabilitation is paying off.

'The operation was done thanks to the Auckland Regional Charity Hospital - I've had the best team around me who developed a good programme to help me recover. I'm now just really enjoying hockey again, being back with the boys and Colin [Batch] and being able to play pain free,” says Neal.

Having been to the World Cup as a reserve, Neal notices how much the team has improved and believes that having had so much competition this year the side is poised to get a great result in Glasgow.

'The team has been together through this year's World League Final, Champions Challenge, World Cup and now training together in Auckland – so the Commonwealth Games is the last competition of the year and if we can learn from the World Cup and build on that, I think we will do really well.

'To be honest it isn't until the team is named and people start congratulating you that you realise this event means so much to New Zealanders, it is starting to sink in now and I'm getting pretty excited.”

The Black Sticks are joined in Pool B by Canada, Trinidad & Tobago, England and Malaysia. They play their matches between July 25 and July 31 before semifinals August 2 and medal matches August 3.

New Zealand Men's Hockey Team:

Nick Haig - Canterbury

Andy Hayward – Midlands

Simon Child - Auckland

Dean Couzins - Auckland

Blair Hilton - Capital

Bradley Shaw - Canterbury

Marcus Child - Auckland

Phil Burrows - Capital

Alex Shaw - Capital

Devon Manchester - Auckland

Blair Tarrant - Southern

Shay Neal - Northland

Arun Panchia - Auckland

Shea McAleese - Central

Hugo Inglis - Southern

Steve Edwards - North Harbour