After nearly two decades, the Vantage National Masters Tournament will be held in Tauranga once again – and it's the biggest one yet!

It was 2005 when our city last hosted this mega hockey event, with global pandemics pipping Tauranga's Hockey's Association from hosting in 2021 and 2022.

'There were two years in a row that were cancelled because of Covid-19 so this is the third time hopeful,” says tournament manager Ruth Tuiraviravi.

Starting Sunday, February 26, at Blake Park, the master's competition will see hockey athletes aged 35-plus flock from all across New Zealand to put their sticks and reputations on the turf.

'There are 96 teams coming, which is approximately 1500 players, plus management and supporters. This is the biggest National Masters Tournament in its history since 1997.”

Jocelyn Sawyer, aged 62, has been competing in Masters for more than 20 years, says it has been 'gut wrenching” not being able to play for these past two years. 'You just want to be able to be in amongst it and play!”

Now she can – and she's competitive too.

'Most of us have been around a little while, we know each other from different areas and its huge competition across the ages. It's really cool to be amongst –whether you're 35, 65, 70 or whatever – that we can still play and compete on a level playing field.”

Eleven Tauranga teams will compete in the tournament – and our city will certainly be a threat. The last Nationals tournament saw Tauranga's Women's 60 team and the Men's 55 team win their grades.

'We've got so many top sports people here…we're a good hub of hockey and high performance hockey in NZ,” says Ruth. Selectors will have their eyes out during the tournament to select players for next year's World Masters Hockey Games so players will be bringing their best!

The Vantage National Masters Tournament is Blake Park from Sunday, February 26-Saturday, March 4.