With the FIH Hockey World Cups now completed and the attention returning to the domestic game, South Africa’s provincial teams will take centre stage as the SA Hockey IPT B Section gets underway at The Hockey Farm in Mpumalanga.
The tournament marks two important firsts. The IPT B Section will be staged as a standalone national tournament for the first time, while The Hockey Farm will also host a national event for the first time in its history.
After a memorable period in which South Africa’s men and women tested themselves against the world’s best, the IPT B Section provides another opportunity to showcase the depth of hockey across the country. It will also offer provincial players the chance to make their mark as the next domestic cycle begins and attention gradually turns towards the road to the 2027 IPT season.
There is a significant prize awaiting the two tournament champions. The winners of both the men’s and women’s competitions will earn promotion to the SA Hockey IPT A Section in 2027, ensuring that every result in Mpumalanga will carry considerable weight.
The women’s tournament features four teams, with hosts Mpumalanga joined by SACD, North West B and the KZN Mynahs. Each side will compete through the group phase before all four teams advance to the semi-finals. The team finishing first will face the fourth-placed side, while second and third will meet in the other semi-final.
That format means the group phase will be vital in determining the most favourable route to the final, but every team will remain in contention for promotion when the knockout matches begin.
The men’s tournament features five teams, with SG Nuggets joining Mpumalanga, SACD, North West B and the KZN Mynahs. The teams will contest a full group phase, after which the top two sides on the standings will advance directly to the final.
With no semi-finals in the men’s competition, there will be little room for error. Every point and every goal could prove decisive in the battle to finish inside the top two and earn the opportunity to compete for promotion.
The tournament is also a landmark moment for hockey in Mpumalanga. Hosting a national competition at The Hockey Farm provides an opportunity to bring top-level provincial hockey to a new audience while highlighting the continued growth of the game beyond its traditional venues.
With national pride having taken centre stage at the World Cups, the focus now shifts back to provincial colours. Promotion, silverware and a place in the 2027 IPT A Section are all on the line in what promises to be a fiercely contested week at The Hockey Farm.
