The South African Hockey Association to day announced the Senior Men’s Hockey team who will be participating in the BDO Men’s Champions Challenge 1 tournament which is to take place in Salta, Argentina from the 6th to 13th December 2009.

Austin Smith will again captain the team against the following countries, Argentina, Belgium, Canada, China, India, New Zealand & Pakistan as the South African team strives to win the tournament and gain promotion into the 2010 Champions Trophy tournament.

Vincent Prior from North West earns his first call up to the national squad in the place of Rassie Pieterse who is injured and will not be able to make the trip to Argentina and Jonty Robinson replaces Lungile Tsolekile  who is unavailable due to work commitments, these are the only 2 changes from the team that achieved  Gold  and retained their No.1 ranking in Africa at the recently held Africa Cup for Nations in Accra, Ghana.

Team:

Paul Blake (WP), Brendon  Botes (EP), Miguel da Graca (SG), Rhett Halkett (Nor.), Justin Reid-Ross (NW), Gareth Carr (Kzn Coastals), Lance Louw (SG), Jonty Robinson (Nor.), Tommy Hammond (Kzn Inlands), Ian Haley (WP), Julian Hykes (Amathole), Wade Paton (Kzn Coastals), Thornton McDade (SG), Lloyd Norris-Jones (SG), Austin Smith (WP) (Capt), Lloyd Madsen (Kzn Coastals), Vincent Prior (NW), Marvin Harper (Kzn Coastals).

Management:

Anton van Rooyen – Manager
Gregg Clark – Coach
David Viney – Asst. Coach
Moabi Malebye – Video/Stats
Pierre Kruger – Physiotherapist