S. Korea lacrosse championship delivers insights as NZ gears up for 2026 tournament
Looking ahead to hosting the Asia Pacific Lacrosse Championships in Wellington next year, event director Debra Cowen travelled with the New Zealand team to the Men’s U20 World Championship in Jeju, South Korea, to study the tournament and strengthen regional ties. In this article, Debra shares her key takeaways from the event. She was supported to attend the championship with a grant from the Foundation's Sports Leaders Fund.
Debra (left) with her son, who competed on the New Zealand team, and her husband and daughter
Lacrosse is described as the fastest game on two feet, and is effectively like ice hockey, without the ice and with nets on the end of the sticks. Lacrosse is a growing sport across Asia, but certainly not mainstream.
This was Korea’s first time hosting a World Championship event, and the tournament was notable for its strong Asian presence and efficient organisation.
Being in South Korea at the height of summer was an eye-opening experience for the players; the heat and humidity rocked a few of them. They loved the different markets and street atmosphere — the history was plain to see and easy to access even within the city limits, particularly on the local hire scooters and electric bikes.
Attending the U20 chamionship allowed Debra to observe the running of a major lacrosse tournament
A total of 19 teams participated in the competiton, including several Asian nations—Japan, China, Hong Kong China, Chinese Taipei and Korea. All, except Chinese Taipei, are entered in the Asia Pacific Lacrosse (APLU) Championships in Wellington in January 2026.
It was New Zealand Lacrosse’s’ first time competing at the U20 Men’s World Championships, and it was important for the team to showcase and share New Zealand values and traditions with other teams. Team members were encouraged to circulate with players from other countries, building new relationships and contacts.
The New Zealand team had a great group of parents and friends travelling to Jeju to support the team, and while the team finished 15th overall, there were some very close games and the team proved that they were well capable of competing against much higher ranked teams.
For me, attending the World Lacrosse U20 Championships in Korea alongside the New Zealand team was an invaluable opportunity to strengthen relationships within the Asia Pacific lacrosse community and gain a clearer understanding of the sport's development across the region.
At the event, I undertook multiple roles, including team manager and New Zealand Lacrosse Board representative. Additionally, I am currently serving as the event director for the upcoming Asia Pacific Lacrosse Championships to be held in Wellington so attending the U21 Championships allowed me to learn the ins and outs of hosting a tournament on the world stage.
In my dual capacity at the event, I had valuable opportunities to engage with team managers, association board members, and APLU executives from across the region.
Discussions covered both the upcoming Wellington event and broader lacrosse development in their respective countries. A common theme across all discussions was the excitement surrounding lacrosse's inclusion in the 2028 Olympic Games. However, countries also shared concerns, particularly around the availability of coaching resources and the financial burden of international competition—challenges that New Zealand also faces.
Some countries are leveraging opportunities for athletes to study and develop overseas, while others are grappling with the balance between domestically-based players and those based abroad.
Playing in the heat of a South Korean summer tested a New Zealand team used to playing in cooler conditions
APLU representatives Chris Jinno and Albert Lei expressed strong interest in increasing interaction among member countries beyond major competitions. They noted that many nations are struggling to grow the sport at the grassroots level and saw potential in coach and official exchanges, as well as more regular international team visits.
Korea echoed this need, with president Won Joe Park and executive Kim Park highlighting their shortage of qualified coaches and their enthusiasm for forming closer ties with New Zealand, particularly through club or age-grade exchanges and opportunities for New Zealand coaches or players to support development in Korea.
Chinese Taipei team manager Tsung-Heng (Henry) Yang pointed to limited player numbers and funding as ongoing challenges, although many of their young athletes see New Zealand as an appealing place to study and play—reflected in the growing number of Chinese Taipei students now playing lacrosse in Auckland.
Japan also reported steady growth, especially in schools and universities, but continues to face coaching and volunteer shortages. With Japan set to host the Women’s and Men’s World Championships in 2026 and 2027, officials hope interest will surge. Their strong delegation in Korea, including discussions at the Opening VIP Function, provided a useful platform to explore future collaboration with New Zealand.
The New Zealand players performing a haka prior to a game
The Jeju championship highlighted both the passion for lacrosse and the shared challenges many countries face, particularly in coaching capacity and funding. These connections and insights will help identify opportunities for greater collaboration, resource sharing, and development initiatives for New Zealand Lacrosse players, officials and coaches.
The support of the Asia New Zealand Foundation has not only enhanced New Zealand Lacrosse’s international engagement but also contributed to the broader growth of lacrosse in our region.
The Foundation's Sports Programme provides New Zealand sportspeople and administrators opportunities to grow more knowledgeable, connected and confident with Asia.
The Foundation's Sports Leaders Fund enables New Zealand sports leaders to travel to Asia to deepen their understanding of the region’s sporting landscape, enhance cultural awareness and establish meaningful connections.
