Burras' continue preparations for Junior World Cup

Australia’s under 21 men’s hockey team, the Burras, continue their preparation for December’s Junior World Cup with four matches against their Malaysian counterparts in Brisbane starting this weekend.

The series at the Queensland State Hockey Centre offers an opportunity for the Junior World Cup training squad to compete together against one of the sides they may come up against in Delhi later in the year.

Burras coach Paul Gaudoin says the week-long camp is not only another opportunity for the young athletes to show what they can do but it gives the group valuable time to work on team dynamics and styles of play.

“We’ll be making our final selection for the Junior World Cup in mid-October, following the Australian Hockey League, so ahead of that, this gives us the chance to find out who will step up and show they want to be in the team,” said Gaudoin.

“While selection is one strand, the other priority is building and consolidating the concepts of how we want to play. Given that we operate as a decentralised squad and the guys come together for a short time before spending two or three months apart, we’ll be looking to fit in a lot in a short space of time.”

With final selection in October and the Junior World Cup taking place in December, the Head Coach says it’s vitally important to know as much as possible about everyone in the squad. “Without the luxury of having everyone together in one location day-in, day-out, it’s at camps like this one where we get a good feel for not only the first 18 guys but also the next guys in line; those we might need to call upon later.”

This month’s training camp has been made possible thanks to the support of the Queensland Academy of Sport and Hockey Queensland and is the latest in a structured program of preparation for the Junior World Cup.

In June, the Burras undertook a two week tour to Europe, during which they played against the likes of the German and Dutch under 21 sides. And a ‘super camp’ in Perth in July saw the Burras come together with their senior compatriots, the Kookaburras, and members of Australia’s men’s development squad for an intensive week of training and competition. Following the Australian Hockey League late next month, the final squad will be announced ahead of a two week training camp in Perth, WA, in November.

Australia U21 Men v Malaysia U21 Men

Queensland State Hockey Centre, Brisbane

Sunday 25 August – 5:30pm AEST

Monday 26 August – 5:00pm AEST

Wednesday 28 August – 2:00pm AEST

Thursday 29 August – 3:30pm AEST

Australia U21 Men’s Junior World Cup Program

23-30 August: Training Camp (Brisbane, Queensland)

27 September – 5 October: Australian Hockey League (Melbourne, Victoria)

w/c 7 October: Final squad selection for JWC

14-30 November (dates tbc): Training Camp (Perth, WA)

30 November: Squad departs for Delhi (Perth, WA)