Tauranga Intermediate school hockey players were treated to a training session on Sunday by Masters Games representatives from all over New Zealand.

Former New Zealand Hockey Goal Keeper and Masters Manager Jeff Garnett says the players were in town attending a training weekend before leaving for the World Masters Games in August.

Hockey Masters training in Tauraunga

'A lot of these guys have played in other competitions including international games held in Singapore earlier this year. All but two members of the team have international playing experience. Each player will pay their own way allowing between $6 – 7k covering his costs.”

The Masters have been selected to represent New Zealand at the World Masters Games in Canterbury, England.

The games are scheduled to start shortly after the Olympics close on 14 August with the players arriving in England at midnight August 11.

The tournament is the largest of its type in the world and is sanctioned for the first time this year by Federated International Hockey (FIH). FIH is the global governing body of field hockey and indoor field hockey.

Six men have been chosen from the Tauranga region including Geoff Williamson in the Men's 45-year-old team, Geoff Owens, Chris Rutherford and Tony Cowbourne in the Masters 50-year-old players' team with coach Gene Reid. Mo Singh has also been selected to represent NZ in the over 60s division.

The men were chosen out of a field of over 180-players for the prowess and skills displayed during the selection tournament in March this year held in Palmerston North.