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Aussie Sharks named for World Cup Division 2 in Malta

Water Polo Australia

Aussie Sharks Head Coach Tim Hamill has named his 16-man team for the World Aquatics World Cup Division 2 in Malta.

Set to take place from 7-13 April, the World Cup Division 2 will be the qualifiers for the World Cup Finals to be held in Sydney in July.

“What an exciting opportunity for not only the Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks and Aussie Stingers, but our whole sport to be hosting the World Cup Finals,” Hamill said. “But the road to Sydney starts for us in Malta.”

Hamill said the squad is a mix of youth and experience, with some players set to make their debut alongside senior members of the squad including eight Olympians. Three New South Wales Institute of Sport scholarship holders – Laurence Barker, Tristan Glanznig, and Zac Izzard – will wear the green and gold.

“I’m really excited to get back on tour with the Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks. 2025 was a challenging year due to not a lot of international competition, so we’re excited to be heading to Malta,” Hamill said. “Excited not just for this competition, but the next three years in the lead up to the LA 2028 Olympic Games.”

As the host nation of the World Cup Finals, Australia is guaranteed a men’s and women’s team at the Finals. The World Cup Division 2 however will be a crucial opportunity for the Australians to gain more international game time on the road to Sydney.

“Our approach always has been and always will be very much the same – regardless of the opposition we go into every competition and game wanting to win, and the World Cup Division 2 will be no different,” Hamill said.

“Albeit a number of players are unavailable for various reasons, including our captain Nathan Power, but we’re excited to get back on the world stage and expose some new Sharks to international water polo.”

The Sharks have been drawn in Group A, and will face the host nation Malta in their first game. They’ll also match up against China and Singapore in the group stages.

“The exciting part of this World Cup Division 2 is there will be over 20 teams – I can’t remember a competition in recent years like that,” Hamill said. “It means we get to play against new and exciting competition we’re all very much looking forward to,” he said.

“What it also means is we won’t know our competition from day four onwards, but in the group stages: Malta have some really strong players and at home will always be challenging, we know China quite well having played them in World Champs last year, and also got some good looks at Singapore at their home World Championships last year too.

“We’re excited to get back overseas, and play international water polo again,” he said.

Water Polo Australia would like to congratulate the following athletes on their selection:

ORD MINNETT AUSSIE SHARKS

Laurence Barker (NSWIS)

Marcus Berehulak (QLD)

Matthew Byrnes (NSW)

Nic Constantin-Bicari (NSW)

Tristan Glanznig (NSWIS)

Andrej Grgurevic (NSW)

Zac Izzard (NSWIS)

Angus Lambie (NSW)

Milos Maksimovic (NSW)