The Hockeyroos and Kookaburras are running out of time to get match-hardened ahead of the Tokyo Olympics after a series of planned internationals were postponed.
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The Australian men and women's hockey teams were set to resume their FIH Pro League campaigns this month, but all matches involving Australia, China and New Zealand have been put on hold because of international travel restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It means the upcoming double headers between Australia and NZ that were scheduled for April 24 and 25 in Perth will no longer go ahead.
The Hockeyroos and Kookaburras were due to travel to Europe afterwards for matches against Spain, the Netherlands, and Germany in May, but these have also been postponed.
Hockey Australia is optimistic about organising games against New Zealand at some stage after the announcement that NZ will allow Australians to enter the country without mandatory quarantine from April 19, but the other matches remain in doubt.
The Kookaburras and Hockeyroos have not played an international match since March 7 last year, and they have little time to get match fit ahead of the Tokyo Games in July.
"The Kookaburras and Hockeyroos have shown phenomenal resilience and adaptability in continuing their preparations for Tokyo without any international matches in over a year," Hockey Australia CEO Matt Favier said.
"This lead up to an Olympics is unprecedented and it is too much of a risk sending teams to Europe this far out from the Games.
"We will continue to monitor the situation and the possibilities of playing any internationals knowing how critical they are for our national teams.
"We are hopeful they will have the opportunity to play on home soil again before they head to Tokyo in July."
Australian Associated Press
