Men's Softball World Champions Australia to play New Zealand on 2 December
The Softball Australia Men's National Team will take on New Zealand on Monday 2 December in a three-game exhibition series on home soil at the Hawker Softball Centre in the ACT.
In a new edition of the Trans-Tasman rivalry, both Australia and New Zealand will play three games in preparation for the WBSC Men's Softball World Cup Finals, scheduled for 8-13 July 2025 in Prince Albert, Canada.
In addition to three senior games, both Australia and New Zealand will field their U-23 teams for three exhibition matches, offering emerging players a great opportunity to compete at the international level and gain invaluable experience on the world stage.
The first three games will be streamed on the Softball ACT YouTube channel, with the final three games streamed by Spacequakesports. The schedule is as follows:
- 11am - Australia U-23 vs New Zealand U-23
- 1pm - Steelers vs Black Sox
- 1pm - Australia U-23 vs New Zealand U-23
- 3pm - Black Sox vs Steelers
- 5pm - New Zealand U-23 vs Australia U-23
- 7pm - Steelers v Black Sox
As part of their Australia tour, the New Zealand Black Sox will also take part in Softball ACT’s prestigious annual SKINS event, before facing off against the Aussie Steelers in an exciting exhibition game day.
“This is a valuable opportunity to go up against some of Australia’s top players in a format that will truly challenge our team,” said New Zealand head coach Thomas Makea.
Both nation's last appearance on the international stage was at the WBSC Men’s Softball World Cup Group Stage. Australia punched their ticket to the Finals in Group A in Mexico, while New Zealand earned their berth in Group B played in Prince Albert.
Australia are the defending champions after winning the World Cup 2022 in Auckland, while New Zealand is the most decorated team in the history of the discipline with seven world titles.
Softball Australia’s CEO, Sarah Loh, shared her pride in the men’s team’s accomplishments, saying: “We are delighted to welcome New Zealand, one of the world’s premier softball teams, to Australian soil. This event will highlight the incredible talent of our Aussie Steelers and create an electric atmosphere for fans of all ages. It’s a fantastic opportunity for both the Aussie Steelers and the New Zealand Black Sox to fine-tune their preparations for the 2025 World Cup, and we couldn’t be more excited to be part of this journey.”