Due to ongoing impacts of COVID, Season 2 of the Sultana Bran Hockey One League has been deferred to October 2022.
The second season of Australia’s ‘reimagined’ premier domestic men’s and women’s hockey competition was originally scheduled to start on 1 October 2021 and run until mid November.
Back in August it was announced the season would start no earlier than 29 October due to the nation’s COVID situation.
However, with that milestone under a fortnight away and the uncertainty around interstate border restrictions likely to remain in place for the foreseeable future, the League and clubs have taken a pragmatic approach by pushing the season back 12 months.
“We remain determined and absolutely committed to safely deliver the second season of Sultana Bran Hockey One League as soon as practically possible,” said League General Manager Tony Dodemaide.
“Having taken into account a host of considerations, by assigning Season 2 to begin in October next year we are optimistic of having freedom of travel and the ability to stage national sporting events across the entire country.
“This will also ensure the league has the best hockey talent competing, including the Kookaburras and Hockeyroos athletes who have important international commitments in 2022.
“We looked at an extensive range of options and alternatives to hold the competition in the last quarter of 2021 and then the first quarter of 2022.
“In the end, all exhibited either too high a risk or too much of a compromise to the brand of Hockey One and value proposition that it is based upon.”
“We appreciate and share our stakeholders’ frustration with a further delay. Unfortunately, as with many fellow sporting competitions, much of this is out of our control.”
“The players, coaches and organisers can’t wait to bring this world class hockey competition back to pitches across the country. All passionately agree that this competition is vital to the long term strategy and success of Australian hockey.”
Further announcements will be made in due course.