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Will Sonny Bill play for the AB's come RWC?
 
DEVELOPMENT EDGE TO BLACK STICKS MEN’S TEAM SELECTED FOR ARGENTINA CHALLENGE PDF Print E-mail
Thursday, 19 November 2009 00:00
Black Sticks Men’s Coach Shane McLeod has selected his latest side, to contest the Champions Challenge in Argentina next month, with an eye to developing further depth in the already successful squad.

McLeod has included three relatively inexperienced players, who were not part of the side that won the BDO Men’s World Cup Qualifying Tournament in Invercargill last weekend.

Twenty one-year-old North Harbour defender Joseph Bartholomew and Wellington striker Blair Hilton (20), who have both played only five games for New Zealand, join Nick Haig who was in Invercargill as precautionary cover for Hayden Shaw but was not called upon. Haig, from Canterbury, is a defender and has been around a little longer than the other two players with 30 caps, but is still only 21.

The selections have allowed Shaw brothers Hayden and Brad, both defenders, to stay at home and fulfil work commitments as teachers.

“Looking to 2010 we have a heavy year and so this is not only an opportunity to rest players but also give international experience to more athletes so that when it comes time to select our World Cup side we are in a good position,” McLeod said.

The World Cup will be played in New Delhi in February/March next year.

In other selections of interest, 18-year-old striker Hugo Inglis (Midlands), who debuted for the Black Sticks in Invercargill, is retained to continue his development.

The WCQ’s top goal scorer Andy Hayward will also have the opportunity to consolidate on his excellent recent form.

The Champions Challenge features the eight teams ranked behind the elite top six. The winner will gain automatic promotion to the Champions Trophy. The competing sides are in order of ranking Pakistanth), New Zealand (8th), Belgium (9th), Argentina (10th), Canada (11th), India (12th), China (13th) and South Africa (15th). (7

McLeod’s goal, along his development aims, is to make the final of the tournament and win promotion to the Champions Trophy being played in Germany in July/August 2010.  The Black Sticks Women achieved this feat, in South Africa last month and will now contest the Women’s Champions Trophy in England next July.

The Champions Challenge will be played in Salta, Argentina from December 6 – 13.

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