Congratulations to Holcombe’s Dom Dixon who was part of the triumphant New Zealand squad at the FIH Nations Cup 2025 in Malaysia.

New Zealand made it back-to-back wins at the tournament with a 6-2 defeat of Pakistan having gone all the way last year.

Dixon, a new arrival at Holcombe Park, played in all five matches, starting four as the Black Sticks, coached by former Holc Greg Nicol, impressed en route to another trophy.

Nicol’s men topped their pool with three wins out of three, beating Japan 2-1 before two 4-3 victories against both hosts Malaysia and Pakistan.

Topping Pool B set up a semi-final clash with Korea.

Jonty Elmes and Dylan Thomas put New Zealand two goals to the good but Korea fought back to draw level before the Black Sticks won the shootout 4-3.

The final was a more comfortable affair as goals from Scott Cosslett, Sam Hiha, Thomas, Sean Findlay and Scott Boyde had New Zealand five up by half-time.

Zikriya Hayat reduced the deficit to four in the third quarter before two late goals followed, first from Cosslett to extend the advantage before Sufyan Khan added another consolation.

Brad Read, also of Holcombe, was named in the initial squad but had to pull out due to injury.

Another Holcombe player in Trevor de Lora was in action at the Nations Cup for South Africa, who finished fourth in Pool A and eighth overall.

de Lora started four of South Africa’s five matches and was involved in the other.

He netted in a 4-4 draw as South Africa opened their campaign with a 4-4 draw against Wales.

Then came two narrow losses for Devon van der Merwe’s side as France ran out 4-3 winners and Korea won 1-0.

Malaysia won 4-2 in the first crossover match to leave South Africa in the seventh/eighth-place play-off, which Japan won 2-1.

Image: New Zealand Black Sticks