Hockey: Early Olympic action for Black Sticks

Sophie Devine and Sam Harrison of the Blacksticks. Photo / Getty Images.

The New Zealand men's and women's hockey teams will both get their Olympics under way in the first match of their respective tournaments.

The women get their tournament started with a match against Australia at an early 8.30am local time start on July 29. The men play South Korea at the same time the following day.

The draw, which was made overnight, has the Black Sticks women, ranked sixth in the world, in the same six-team pool as world No 2 Argentina and No 3-ranked Germany, while the seventh-ranked men's team will face No 2-ranked Germany and world No 3 the Netherlands.

The two top teams from each pool will make the semifinals, while the others will play off for minor placings.