Local players picked for Fiji tournament | Rotorua Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rotorua

We have a lot of depth in the teams. We have a good mixture of old heads but fast legs. Tenga Rangitauira, Rotorua hockey player CAPTION2 New Zealand's Maori hockey teams have plenty of depth for the Pacific Cup in Fiji, Rotorua hockey player Tenga Rangitauira says.

The 24-year-old, who has been playing the sport since he could first pick up a stick, was among nine Rotorua men and women selected for the Maori squads which will travel to Fiji in December.

The other local players selected are Tatai Dewes, Tuwharetoa Hapi (non-travelling reserve), Hoete Mitai-Ngatai, Owen Mitai-Wells, Tenga Rangitauira and Natana Waaka for the men's squad. For the women's squad, Parekura Rangitauira, Aroha Thompson and Harina Wright (non-travelling reserve).

Rangitauira said the two teams would be looking to make a good impression at the tournament and he was confident of a good result.

"We have a lot of depth in the teams.

"We have a good mixture of old heads but fast legs."

The men's team placed third at the event last year while the women won their final.

Rangitauira, who has been a representative player since he was 14, got the news of his inclusion in the squad at the recent Maori Hockey Tournament in Hamilton where he was representing Waiariki. Both the region's men's and women's teams won their finals.

Tangitauira's team won the final 3-2 from Tama-kimakau-rau (Auckland) who have won it 15 times in the past 19 years. The Waiariki women won their final 2-1 in a hard fought game against Takitimu.

Rangitauira said the squads had been confident going into the tournament.

"Most of us have played together growing up, we know each other's game really well and the others who joined the team adapted well to our style of play."

Renee Wright who helped coach the two Waiariki squads, said the teams' successes were "monumental".

"[Both] deserved to win. They looked really strong."

Regarding the upcoming tournament in Fiji, Mrs Wright said this year's teams were among the strongest Maori squads to go to the event.

"The Maori teams are always popular at this event and the women would have to be the favourites to take out the women's division."