6 Jul 2012

Black Sticks men to be put to the sword by coaches

6:36 pm on 6 July 2012

The New Zealand men's and women's hockey teams flew out for Belgium on Friday as they go through their final preparations for the London Olympic Games.

With just three weeks before the opening ceremony the Black Sticks men will pack in four matches in Europe, two against Belgium and two against Holland, the latter particularly important as they'll face the Dutch in pool play in London.

Between those matches the players will be put through a series of brutal trainings as the coaches attempt to get the squad to their physical peak.