Hockey: Black Sticks draw World Cup heavyweights

Alex Shaw said it was a tough day at the office in his side's first match at the World League finals. Photo / Brett Phibbs

The New Zealand men have gone up a spot in the world rankings, but it hasn't affected who they'll play at the World Cup in the Netherlands this year.

The draw has placed the Black Sticks with Olympic champions Germany and the Netherlands, who beat New Zealand 7-2 in last weekend's final of the inaugural World League in New Delhi.

Had New Zealand stayed in seventh spot they'd have ended up in the same pool.

They have avoided new world No 1, and 2010 World Cup winners, Australia, but might have fancied their prospects more in group A.

Germany will be smarting from losing their world top ranking, courtesy of a disappointing World League performance. They tonked New Zealand 6-1 in New Delhi while the Black Sticks needed a penalty shootout to get past Argentina at that tournament. The South Americans remain 11th on rankings, but appear to be on the move.

Before going to The Hague, New Zealand will contest the biennial Champions Challenge tournament in Malaysia from April 26-May 4. New Zealand will start favourites as top seeds. The winner will qualify for the Champions Trophy in 2016.

• Hockey New Zealand has announced Sean Dancer as assistant coach of the Black Sticks Women, to replace Greg Nicol, who stepped down last year. Dancer, who has been coaching in Wellington for several years and worked with the men's Black Sticks, will be Mark Hager's assistant, starting with a trip to San Diego early next month for tests against the US and Britain.

World Cup pools

Men's Group A: Australia (world No 1), England (4), Belgium (5), India (8), Spain (10), Malaysia (13).

Group B: Germany (2), Netherlands (3), New Zealand (6), Korea (7), Argentina (11), South Africa (12)

Tournament runs with the women's event in The Hague, May 31-June 15. The draw will be released next Friday.