2022 Australian Teams Announced

2022 Australian Teams Announced

Australian Oztag is proud to announce the Australian Tagaroos teams that will compete at the International Tag Series in August 2022 at Coffs Harbour.

In what has been unprecedented times for not only the Game of Oztag but the world itself with the COVID 19 virus having such a massive impact, it has meant the Tagaroos have not been able to compete since 2019 and as such players and officials have been waiting for this opportunity to represent their country again.

There is no doubt representing your country is a huge honour and each and every one of the players and officials selected today should be extremely proud of their achievements.

The International Tag Series will have almost 30 Nations represented with the Australian Tagaroos fielding 16 teams ranging from the Boys and Girls 18’s through to the Mens 60’s which will have 2 teams representing that division.

“It has been a long time coming, but the wait will definitely be worth it as players and officials get the opportunity to wear the Green and Gold of Australia again,” Oztag Founder, Perry Haddock said.

“There is no doubt this is a big 12 months in the world of Oztag with the National Championships in November being the selection process for the 2023 World Cup in Limerick, Ireland,”

“This should be something that all players in our Game should be aspiring to compete in,” Haddock said.

Players selected for the Australian teams did so after having trialled at the Tagaroos Selection Day last Sunday at Waterworth Park, Earlwood with over 350 players vying for a spot in the Tagaroos teams.

AO would like to congratulate all the players and officials for their selection and wish them all the very best at the upcoming International Tag Series.

OFFICIAL TEAM LISTS

2021 High Performance Academy Squad Announced

2021 High Performance Academy Squad Announced

Australian Oztag is proud to announce the players selected for the 2021 High Performance Academy, a prestigious opportunity that see’s the development of Oztag’s rising stars.

Players were once again selected based on their performance at the City v Country tournament, which was held in Tuggerah on the Central Coast in June.

The High Performance Academy (HPA) identifies the game’s rising stars from the 14 and 15 year-old age groups, providing them the opportunity to be coached by some of Oztag’s elite coaches.

The following players will attend the HPA Camp which will take place at the NSW Academy of Sport in Narrabeen later this year.

The Academy is now in its third year and has seen some amazing results from the players who have attended, with many former HPA players selected to represent the Australian Tagaroos at the upcoming Trans–Tasman Tournament in New Zealand. 

Australian Oztag Director of Coaching and Development, Michael Buettner believes the HPA is an opportunity for players to strengthen their game in a professional environment.   

“There is no doubt the High-Performance Academy is a great springboard for the game’s emerging stars to take the next step towards representing their country in Oztag,” Buettner said.  

“The NSW Academy of Sport at Narrabeen provides the perfect facility for the players and coaches to prosper in a High-Performance environment,” he said. 

From outlining the specifics of player roles and positions, to maximizing athletic performance and partaking in a variety of skill and conditioning drills, the squad will be treated like elite athletes.

Oztag Founder, Perry Haddock has confidence in this year’s program and congratulates all players on their selection.  

“This year will see some of Oztag’s great coaches at the High-Performance Academy work with the young stars of our game to nurture and develop their Oztag skills in addition to having lots of fun and building friendships that may last a lifetime,” Haddock said.

“Congratulations to each and every one of the players on their selection; we look forward to welcoming you to the High-Performance Academy later this year,” he said.

For a second year, Australian Oztag could not invite QLD players to the 2021 HPA Camp due to Covid-19. However, ACT’s players will be nominated by the association.  

All players selected will receive full HPA kit allocation, accommodation and meals, covered by Australian Oztag for the duration of the camp.

AO congratulate all 40 players on their selection in the 2021 HPA squad.

2021 Senior City v Country Announcement

2021 Senior City v Country Announcement

Senior City v Country will return in 2021, accompanied by a new format that will see the tournament played strictly between two regions – City and Country.

Selected from the 2021 NSW Senior State Cup in Coffs Harbour, set to kick off Friday 14 May, it is an opportunity for players to combine with their region’s best and play off in a high-calibre tournament.

A City and Country team will be selected in each division to play a three-game series on Saturday 9 October, 2021 on the NSW South Coast at Sid Parish Park, Figtree.

City teams will be a represented by associations in the Sydney basin from Hornsby in the North, to Penrith in the West, Campbelltown in the South and over to the East Coastline.

Any associations outside this border will represent Country.

Selection Process

The coach from the highest placed team will be offered the coaching role. The coach will then have the option to appoint an assistant coach & manager, either from their own team or another team within the region.

There can only be a maximum of three staff per team.

Players will be selected based on a scaling system of where their team placed at the conclusion of the tournament.

Coaches are required to submit a rating form, ranking the performance of their players at the tournament. Coaches should only rank players that they believe are capable of playing at the next level.

Coaches will be given the rating forms and will have the opportunity to submit their selected team to Australian Oztag (AO).

AO selectors will also nominate a team of which will be reviewed in conjunction with the submitted rating forms.  These selectors will then agree on the final teams.

Trans-Tasman given the green light amidst Travel Bubble approval

Trans-Tasman given the green light amidst Travel Bubble approval

Australian Oztag are thrilled to announce that the 2020 Trans-Tasman tournament will be going ahead in September this year.

The Australian and New Zealand travel bubble is set to open in April, giving the prestigious Trans-Tasman tournament the green light for the revised month of September, 2021.

This tournament remained a priority for Australian Oztag (AO) to ensure all players were granted the opportunity to represent their country.

It is therefore AO’s pleasure to announce the Tournament details as follows:

Date: 16th – 21st September, 2021

Venue: Pullman Park, Auckland, NZ

More details to come.

Following great anticipation, AO are ecstatic that representatives will have the opportunity to travel to New Zealand and throw on their well-earned jerseys with pride.

2020 Trans-Tasman Postponed

2020 Trans-Tasman Postponed

Australian Oztag regret to inform the Oztag community that the Trans-Tasman Tournament to be held in April, 2021 has once again been postponed due to the ongoing Covid-19 border restrictions.

The tournament, set to be held in New Zealand is a priority for AO as we want all representatives to have the chance to wear their Australian jersey.

A date is yet to be confirmed but the month of September, 2021 is the likely option.

Further details will be forthcoming once the necessary changes can be confirmed including flights, hotel accommodation and venue hire.

Again, we appreciate your patience and please know that Australian Oztag are working very closely with MTA Travel in doing our best to ensure this Tournament goes ahead.

Annual City v Country set to go ahead in 2021 for both Juniors and Seniors

Annual City v Country set to go ahead in 2021 for both Juniors and Seniors

Oztag’s prestigious City v Country tournament will return in 2021 for both Junior and Senior prospects of the game.

Selected from the 2021 NSW State Cup, it is an opportunity for Oztag’s top players to represent their region alongside various new teammates.

The tournament will be played on Saturday 12 June and Sunday 13 June, 2021 at Central Coast Regional Sporting Complex, Tuggerah NSW.

Junior City v Country will be played on Sunday 13 June, and will again welcome the four regions – Southern City Seahawks, Western City Scorpions, Southern Country Pride and Northern Country Knights.

Regions will play each other once, followed by a Final and 3rd v 4th.

2021 Junior State Cup Coaches will be required to complete the Junior Rating Form for their own team, based on player performance at the NSW State Cup tournament. The form must be submitted by Wednesday 17 February, 2021.

Once again, the eminent High-Performance Academy Players will be selected from the 14’s and 15’s divisions at the 2021 City v Country tournament.

Senior City v Country will be played on Saturday 12 June in a new three-game format, played strictly between two regions – City and Country.

City teams will be represented by associations in the Sydney basin from Hornsby in the North, to Penrith in the West, Campbelltown in the South and the East coastline. Any associations outside this border will represent Country.

City representatives will be selected from the top four finishing City teams in Division 1 at the NSW Senior State Cup.

Country representatives will be selected from the top four finishing Country teams in Division 1 at the NSW Senior State Cup. If there is not four teams in Division 1, they can be selected from Second division teams.

2021 Senior State Cup Coaches will also be required to complete a Rating Form for their own team, based on player performance at the tournament.

Australian Oztag look forward to the return of the annual City v Country tournaments and the level of talent that accompanies them.