Play nzherald.co.nz's rugby Pick the Score competition - go to: pickthescore.nzherald.co.nz
The harsh realities of funding cuts have hit home at Hockey New Zealand with players selected for this year's Junior World Cups needing to contribute $7000 (men) or $8000 (women) each to attend their tournament.
The hefty financial burden has led to a number of players making themselves unavailable for the Junior Women's World Cup in Boston.
Among those not going are Black Sticks squad members Charlotte Harrison and Jasmin McQuinn. Harrison's sister Samantha is also unavailable.
Their father, Steve Harrison, said $16,000 was simply too much.
"If you want to play for your country I do not think it's fair to ask the players to pay like this," said Harrison. "It goes against the grain of how I feel they should be treated."
The under-21s have suffered following the loss of funding for the women's programme. A poor showing at the Beijing Olympics led to Sparc refusing to fund the women this year - they received $375,000 in 2008 - and money which had been earmarked for the Junior World Cups is being spent on the senior team.
Hockey New Zealand CEO Ramesh Patel said: "We are under huge [financial] constraints. I feel really sorry for the players. I feel uneasy about having to do this and realise it is a huge commitment by parents.
"But, we have to prioritise and the Black Sticks are that at the moment."
Hockey New Zealand has put $30,000 towards the Junior Women which has helped cut the player's contribution from $9500 to $8000.
Rob Howes has had to cancel a trip to support his daughter Nicola in Boston.
"We were there when they qualified and said we would go if Nicola was selected," said Howes. "The reality now is we have to find the money for her and that means we won't be going."
He, like others, is preparing for a winter of sausage sizzles.
