Nelson’s reputation as a small city that punches well above its weight on the underwater hockey stage is set to be on show again at the 2026 CMAS Age Group World Championships in Türkiye.
A group of Nelson‑connected players has been named in New Zealand’s Underwater Hockey New Zealand age‑group squads, continuing a long tradition of local athletes making the step from the Top of the South to the world stage.
In the under‑24 men’s team, Harrison Brosnan has been selected, having previously come through the Nelson College programme.
The under‑24 women’s squad includes Scarlett Reeves and Chantal Brosnan, both also ex‑NCG players.
Nelson is also represented in the under‑19 men’s team by Isaac Milner and Toby Dukes, with Jasper Sneddon named as a non‑travelling reserve.
In the under‑19 women’s team, Lucy Jennings and Georgia Harris have been selected, with Grace van Orden listed as a non‑travelling reserve.
For a city of Nelson’s size, the number of athletes reaching national and international level tells a wider story about the strength of local underwater hockey, and the influence of long‑standing families and clubs within the sport.
New Zealand’s place on the global underwater hockey scene is staggering. A brief look at recent results shows New Zealand teams often return from age‑group world championships with three out of the four gold medals available across the under‑19 and under‑24 men’s and women’s grades. Similar results are regularly seen at elite and masters world championships.
The 2026 CMAS seventh World Championship Underwater Hockey Age Group tournament will be held from July 16–25 in Gebze, Kocaeli, Türkiye, bringing together the world’s top young players in the under‑19 and under‑24 divisions.
In the lead‑up to the championships, the selected athletes have already completed four separate national training camps, held in November, January, March and April.
