The New Zealand Hawks are set to run out at the International Cup 2014 wearing a brand new guernsey.
The guernseys are being released as part of the build-up to the 2014 International Cup campaign, set to take place in August this year. The guernseys will be worn for the first time at the International Cup.
Provided by the Hawthorn Football Club, the new New Zealand Hawks guernseys feature a clean, simple design aesthetic, and will certainly stand out on the field and in the stands.
The new guernseys are the first design update since 2010, and will be adopted by all teams playing as a New Zealand team, including the New Zealand Kahus.
adidas is the Hawks' apparel sponsor and provider. Purchase your New Zealand Hawks guernsey from HawksNest.
The International Cup is the premier tournament that the New Zealand Hawks compete in. Held every three years in Melbourne, the International Cup features male and female International AFL teams from around the world.
The last time the New Zealand Hawks won the International Cup was in 2005, after beating Papua New Guinea in the final. New Zealand came third in 2011, with Ireland winning the competition.
The New Zealand Hawks are confident of advancing deep into the tournament in 2014, with a strong squad of players, hardened from their involvement in the AFL New Zealand High Performance programme.
Recently, a two match series was played between the New Zealand Hawks and the South Pacific Nations, which was closely viewed in the lead up to the International Cup as players sought to stake a claim to selection.
New Zealand Hawks captain Michael Gregson was impressed with both the high standards and commitment shown by the New Zealanders involved in the matches.
“A lot of players put their hands up for selection into the International Cup team this weekend, but there is still a lot of hard work to be done.”
Provision of the New Zealand Hawks Guernseys is just one of the avenues through which the Hawthorn Football Club takes an active interest in AFL in New Zealand.
Hawthorn have two New Zealanders on their rookie list, Kurt Heatherley and Shem Tatupu. Heatherley recently played in all three NAB Challenge pre-season matches, impressing onlookers with his physicality, athleticism and tenacity.
Hawthorn also have Siope Ngata signed to an International Scholarship with the club. Siope recently missed the ANZAC series due to training commitments in Melbourne with Hawthorn.
The club also sponsor the Hawks Cup, a Secondary School tournament which constitutes the first step for male and female athletes to take up AFL. Many players currently involved with the AFL New Zealand High Performance programme began their involvement in AFL through Hawks Cup tournaments.
