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Orchard and Dawson headline NSW Waratahs Australian Hockey League campaign

NSW Institute of Sport

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Rio Olympians Simon Orchard and Matthew Dawson headline an NSWIS contingent of 14 to represent the NSW Waratahs for the Australian Hockey League (AHL) tournament to be held from September 29 to October 9 in Perth.

Teams from each state and territory will participate in the two-week event, and will be joined by invitational teams from India, Malaysia and New Zealand, who will all be out to hunt down 2015 title winners Queensland.

The Waratahs will look to draw on the experience of midfielder Orchard in particular, who boasts a resume that includes Olympic bronze from London, two world cup gold medals from 2010 and 2014 as well as Commonwealth Games gold from Glasgow in 2014.

While Dawson may not have the same lengthy list of achievements as Dawson at the top level, the 22-year-old from Newcastle made his Olympic debut this year, and will be an asset for the team after tasting success at the 2016 Champions Trophy and 2015 World League Final with the Australian team.

Joining Orchard and Dawson in the Waratahs team are fellow NSWIS athletes Ben and Tom Craig, Jack Hayes, Sam Liles, Kurt Lovett, Flynn Ogilvie, Lachlan Sharp, Nathanael Stewart and Matthew Willis. NSWIS talent agreement athletes Zac Brazel and Luke Noblett have also been selected.

Meanwhile NSWIS head coach Brent Livermore will form part of the brains trust for the team as he takes up an assistant coaching role alongside Stewart Dearing and David Willott. The trio will work under head coach Warren Birmingham.

The Waratahs will play five pool matches, beginning against defending champions Queensland on Thursday September 29. They will then face Victoria and New Zealand before a one-day break, followed by games against the Malaysian Tigers and Northern Territory.

All teams will then have a one day break before the knockout rounds toake place from Friday October 7 to Sunday October 9.