Hockey

The New Zealand Commonwealth Games team for Glasgow will feature both men's and women's hockey teams.

The men's team is currently ranked third in the Commonwealth behind Australia and England and the women are second behind Australia.

Both teams have produced solid performances at the World Cup and are likely contenders for medals.

The men won bronze four years ago in Delhi, while the women took the silver.

Both squads are hugely experienced.

All but four of the mens squad have played a hundred tests or more with Phil Burrows earning 326 caps and captain Dean Couzins 312.

New Zealand hockey players Dean Couzins and Phil Burrows. Photo: PHOTOSPORT.

Couzins and Burrows are competing in their fourth Commonwealth Games.

The New Zealand Men are in Pool B and face Canada, Trinidad and Tobago, England and Malaysia in pool play.

Senior players in the Black Sticks women's team include captain Kayla Whitelock, Emily Naylor, Krystal Forgesson, Gemma Flynn and Anita Punt who have all played more than 150 games boosting the team test cap average to 108, but despite the team's international experience, only seven players have, as yet, competed at a Commonwealth Games.

The women will face Trinidad and Tobago, India, South Africa and Canada in pool play.

The top two teams from each pool then progress to semi-finals.

Australia has dominated Commonwealth Games Hockey since it was introduced in 1998 with their men winning every tournament, while the women have missed out only once, in 2002, when India beat them to gold.