Hockeyroos name 2015 squad

The Australian women’s hockey team has announced its 2015 squad, with six NSWIS athletes making the grade.

The 23-strong squad sees NSWIS athletes Mariah Williams and Georgina Morgan make the step-up from the 2014 national development squad, joining fellow NSWIS athletes Casey Sablowski (nee Eastham), Kate Jenner, Emily Smith and Kellie White in the senior squad.

Rio 2016 will be the focus for the squad, with a number of qualifying events taking place throughout 2015.

To qualify for the 2016 Games the Hockeyroos have to finish in the top three at the FIH World League Semi Finals in June, or win the Oceania Cup during October.

Announcing the squads, Australian women’s National Coach Adam Commens said, “Halfway towards the Olympic Games our major focus needs to be on qualifying for Rio and the Games themselves. But we need to have an eye for the future and the selections reflect that with a number of younger players coming into the centralised program."

The Hockeyroos’ first tournament for 2015 will be the Hawke’s Bay Festival during April, where they will face the likes of Argentina, New Zealand and China.