NSW Polo is proud to announce a major new initiative designed to identify, support, and accelerate the development of the sport’s most promising young players.

The U25 Development Squad has been created to recognise and nurture emerging talent across NSW, strengthening Australia’s professional and semi-professional player pathway while helping secure a sustainable and competitive future for polo.

Why this matters

For several decades, Australian polo has relied heavily on overseas professionals—particularly at the 4–6 goal level. While this has enriched the game, it has also highlighted a growing structural challenge:

• Fewer locally based players progressing from 1–3 goals into the 4–5 goal bracket

• Many higher-handicap Australian players now moving down in handicap

• A potential shortage of locally developed professionals within 5–10 years, including players capable of producing horses for the broader polo community

Without targeted action, this gap risks impacting the long-term strength of the sport in NSW and across Australia.

A proven model for success

The initiative draws inspiration from the Equestrian NSW Eventing Squads, established in 1993.
That structured, coach-led development system produced a generation of internationally dominant Australian riders and laid the foundation for multiple Olympic and World Championship medals, shaped by the leadership and legacy of Wayne Roycroft.

The NSW U25 Development Squad adapts this successful framework specifically for polo.

What the squad will offer

Selected U25 players will be invited to:

• Train alongside leading senior players and coaches

• Participate in coaching sessions aligned with major tournaments, including the Dudley and Morton Cups

• Progress toward weekend and week-long high-performance training camps as the program develops

The first squad training sessions will take place in the Hawkesbury, coinciding with the Morton Cup.
Selected players will be notified in the coming weeks.

This initiative represents an exciting step forward in building the next generation of Australian polo talent and ensuring a strong, sustainable future for the sport.