The third edition of the Men’s Nations Cup starts on Sunday with teams chasing a potential place in the top tier FIH Pro League — despite the economic outlook far from favourable for most nations.
Promotion invites by the FIH will depend on funding, with some competing nations having already turned down or dropped out of the Pro League.
This Nations Cup, which will be played in Malaysia, will see eight teams compete:
Pool A: France, Korea, South Africa, Wales
Pool B: Japan, Malaysia, New Zealand, Pakistan
Teams will all play on June 15 with France, top ranked at world No.9, taking on Korea followed by South Africa against Wales.
New Zealand will take on Japan in the penultimate match before hosts Malaysia against Pakistan. Pool stage matches will be played up until June 18, followed by the classification matches and medal matches on June 20 and 21.
France first joined the Pro League in 2022, while South Africa have played and declined invites to the global league. New Zealand have also withdrawn from the Pro League and Pakistan were thrown out of the first Pro League.
Lowest-ranked Wales, the world No.18 side, have a new coaching addition, with former GB captain David Ames in their ranks.
Ames, 35, is helping head coach Danny Newcombe as Wales ready themselves for their Nations Cup debut.
Wales travel with Olympians Rupert Shipperley, Gareth Furlong and Jacob Draper.
Ames said: “It’s obviously a bit more stressful on this side, having not just to play but worry about everything that goes into it from a detail point of view. But I’m looking forward to the challenge and an exciting summer with these lads.”
With previous funding cuts, it is not known at this stage whether Wales would be able to take up the offer of a Pro League place should they defy the odds and win the Nations Cup.
