Hockey: Men's Black Sticks bound for Rio Olympics

The Black Sticks men's team will join the women's team at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Photo/Getty.

The New Zealand men's Black Sticks hockey team is bound for Rio after New Zealand's Olympic Committee received an official invitation from the International Hockey Federation to compete at the 2016 Olympics.

Their place was confirmed today after South African Hockey was unsuccessful in their appeal to the FIH, after they were originally denied spots by their own Olympic Committee due to low world rankings.

Hockey New Zealand chief executive Malcolm Harris is delighted with the outcome.

"Really pleased," said Harris.

"We haven't had an invitation yet. The invitation will go to the New Zealand Olympic Committee first for ratification so we'll wait for the invitation but its great news."

The uncertainty over whether the men's Black Sticks would be invited and able to join the New Zealand women's team had made for a difficult and frustrating past few weeks for all involved.

Now that the situation was resolved the players and coach Colin Batch would be able to focus fully on capping their preparations.

"It has been frustrating, especially for the coach and the team obviously," said Harris.

"They've been preparing well but not having certainty has been challenging. They'll be elated.

"It would have been better if we had been kept in the loop. In terms of process and timing, that was frustrating."

Harris had no doubts the NZOC would formally accept the invitation from FIH and clear the way for the Black Sticks to attend.

"We hope so," he laughed. "I think that's the case, yes."