Otago duo Benji Culhane and Malachi Buschl have been drafted into the Black Sticks men’s squad on short-term contracts.
They will join established Otago trio Hugo Inglis, Blair Tarrant and Kane Russell in a largely unchanged squad for the year ahead, while the Black Sticks women have brought in a couple of familiar faces as they continue building momentum.
Both squads feature 18 internationally contracted players for a 12-month period alongside a handful of "event" contracted players available for shorter periods of time for events such as the Olympic qualifiers in January.
Players outside the current contracted squads are also available to be brought in
on an event contract at any time.
The women’s contracted squad features the return of forwards Holly Pearson and Petrea Webster.
Pearson’s selection comes after a significant knee injury sustained in May 2022 against Australia, her form at domestic level earning her an international contract.
Webster has earned an event contract with the 152-cap veteran potentially winning her first international cap since 2016.
Black Sticks
The squads
Men: Leon Hayward, Dom Dixon, Kane Russell, Nic Woods, Blair Tarrant, Charlie Morrison, David Brydon, Simon Yorston, Dane Lett, Sean Findlay, Aidan Sarikaya, Hayden Phillips, George Baker, Hugo Inglis, Sam Lane, Sam Hiha, Jake Smith, Scott Boyde. Event contracts: George Enersen, Connor Greentree, Benji Culhane, Malachi Buschl, Isaac Houlbrooke.
Women: Grace O’Hanlon, Brooke Roberts, Megan Hull, Steph Dickins, Casey Crowley, Frances Davies, Liz Thompson, Sam Child, Tarryn Davey, Julia King, Katie Doar, Olivia Shannon, Alia Jaques, Hannah Cotter, Olivia Merry, Hope Ralph, Rose Tynan, Holly Pearson. Event contracts: Kirsty Nation, Tayla White, Kaitlin Cotter, Anna Crowley, Izzy Gill, Petrea Webster, Anna Willocks.
