GAME DAY! Oceania Cup 2025 preview

Few rivalries in world sport carry the weight, respect and intensity of Australia versus New Zealand on the hockey turf. The two nations have spent more than a century pushing each other to the limit — fierce competitors on the field yet bound by deep ANZAC ties off it.

The Oceania Cup is live and free on 7plus. Tickets are available from Ticketek - kids 12 and under get in free. The first 150 people through the gates will receive a free goodie bag thanks to Hockey Australia partners. The event program is available here.

Under the glare of the Olympic spotlight in Montreal, 1976 — a collision of will, pride, and destiny would etch itself into the DNA of both nations. New Zealand’s victory that day was their first and only Olympic hockey gold, a triumph that stung Australia deeply and lit a flame that has burned ever since.

From that moment, every trans-Tasman hockey encounter has carried the weight of history. The decades have brought new players, new coaches, and new eras, but the undercurrent remains the same — a fierce, unrelenting rivalry where every tackle, every goal, and every whistle adds another brushstroke to a story still being written, shaping the battles, the heroes, and the legacies yet to come.

In recent years, that story has been enriched by the Hockeyroos’ own high stakes duels with the Black Sticks Women — from the nerve shredding 2010 Commonwealth Games final shootout to the 2022 Trans Tasman Series and the 2023 Oceania Cup in Whangārei, where Australia’s women sealed their Olympic ticket with a decisive series win on New Zealand soil.

The Oceania Cup stands as the modern battleground for this enduring contest and Darwin will host the next chapter — a clash not just for titles and qualification, but for the right to shape the next page in a hockey story that has never lost its edge.

Leading the charge again is local hero Jeremy Hayward, co captain and a 2023 FIH Player of the Year short listed athlete, in his long awaited Darwin homecoming.

“Matches against New Zealand are always tough and fiercely contested, and fans can expect fast, aggressive, attacking hockey from Australia,” Hayward said.

“With Horry (coach Mark Hager) leading us, we’ll bring energy and aim to grind teams down with relentless attack, so it’ll be a great spectacle for the Darwin community.”

“Darwin is home. It’s where I grew up and where my people are, so coming back to where it all began to live out my dream is incredibly special.”

Kookaburras: A Hockey Record to Continue

The Kookaburras (currently fifth on the FIH world rankings) are already qualified for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup and arrive in Darwin at full strength — a rarity in the modern international hockey calendar. They have a clear mission: sharpen their edge, climb the FIH world hockey rankings and deliver a statement ahead of next year’s World Cup.

They welcome back four key players from injury, including Brisbane Blaze pairing Corey Weyer and Lachlan Sharp, who both return for the first time since the Paris 2024 Olympic hockey tournament.

They’ll also be defending an extraordinary record — undefeated in the Oceania Cup men’s hockey series since its inception in 1999 — and building on their 2023 triumph in Whangārei, where they won the series 2–1 to seal Olympic qualification. That campaign included a decisive 3–1 victory in the final match, with Hayward among the scorers.

Local hero, Hayward, a 2023 FIH Player of the Year short-listed athlete, will lead the side in his long-awaited Darwin homecoming, alongside fellow newly inked co-captains Josh Beltz and Tim Howard, marking a new era for the Kookas.

Hockeyroos: Qualification and Redemption

For the Hockeyroos (also currently fifth on the FIH world rankings), the Oceania Cup doubles as the first step in their 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup qualification journey and they too arrive at full strength. Head Coach Katrina Powell has named her most powerful 18-player squad, blending experience with returning firepower.

NSW Pride's Abby Wilson returns to the line-up after a six-month injury layoff, while reigning Hockey One League champion Courtney Schonell (Perth Thundersticks), the equal Roos’ top goal scorer of the year, is set for her first Oceania Cup since scoring the 2023 decider’s match-winner in New Zealand. Schonell’s comeback also follows a year-long recovery from an ACL injury that ruled her out of Paris 2024.

With FIH world hockey ranking points on the line and the World Cup less than a year away, the Hockeyroos know this is more than just a trans-Tasman battle — it’s a chance to set the tone for 2026.

The Rivals: New Zealand Vantage Black Sticks Men & Women

The Black Sticks Men (currently 10^th on the FIH world rankings) arrive highly motivated, chasing a rare series win over the Kookaburras on Australian soil. Several squad members will be familiar to local fans through the 2025 Hockey One League, including Scott Boyde (Brisbane Blaze), whose consistency and scoring finesse have lit up the domestic hockey competition.

The Black Sticks Women (also currently 10^th on the FIH world rankings), fresh from a competitive USA hockey tour, are also bolstered by Hockey One talent, with Olivia Shannon (Canberra Chill), Hannah Cotter (HC Melbourne), Britt Wang (Adelaide Fire) and Anna Crowley (Canberra Chill) bringing attacking flair that’s been honed in Australia’s top domestic league.

The Kookaburras get the Oceania Cup underway tonight, Thursday 4^th September at 6.00pm ACST, before the Hockeyroos follow at 8.00pm ACST. The double headers take place again on Saturday 6^th and Sunday 7^th. See the full schedule below.

All Kookaburras and Hockeyroos matches can be watched live and free on 7Plus.

See the Hockeyroos 2025 Oceania Cup Squad here.

See the Kookaburras 2025 Oceania Cup Squad here.

For more information about the 2025 Oceania Cup in Darwin, visit the Hockey Australia website here. 

The 2025 Oceania Cup is proudly supported by the Northern Territory Government, through the Northern Territory Major Events Company.

Oceania Cup 2025 Match Schedule

MWT Hockey Centre, Marrara, Darwin