The Volley Blacks are heading to Fukuoka, Japan later this month to compete at the 2026 AVC Men’s Volleyball Continental, with the tournament running from 4–13 September.

The trip comes off the back of the AVC Men’s Nations Cup in India, where the Volley Blacks put together some strong performances and tournament highlights against a competitive field.

There are a few changes to the lineup heading into Fukuoka, with Daniel Malcolm, Jamie Julian, Jack McManaway, Maia Westrupp, Mana Placid and Saxon Gough returning to the Volley Blacks setup.

Their return adds some fresh faces and familiar faces to the group, joining a number of players who were part of the India campaign. It will be exciting to see how the group comes together and builds on what was started in India.

New Zealand will be one of 12 teams competing in Fukuoka, alongside Australia, Bahrain, China, Chinese Taipei, India, Iran, Japan, Korea, Oman, Qatar and Thailand.

The tournament will give the Volley Blacks another opportunity to play against some of the strongest teams in the region and continue gaining valuable international experience.

The 14-player squad travelling to Japan is:

Alan Hodder – Canterbury

Carrick Corson – Bay of Plenty

Daniel Malcolm – Canterbury

Jamie Julian – Canterbury

Jack McManaway – Bay of Plenty

Liam Smith – Canterbury

Luke Hulston – Canterbury

Maia Westrupp – Bay of Plenty

Mana Placid – Canterbury

Saxon Gough – North Harbour

Seth Grant – Canterbury

Thomas Vesty – Canterbury

Troy Hulston – Canterbury

Rob Maxwell – Bay of Plenty

The team will be led by Head Coach Sebastian Gonzalez Moreno, Assistant Coach Brendon-Ray Horlock, Team Manager Sue Ballantyne and Physio Diane Chen.

The Volley Blacks will depart New Zealand on 29 August, with their first matches beginning on 4 September.

Keep an eye on Volleyball New Zealand’s channels for updates from Fukuoka throughout the tour.

Article added: Tuesday 11 August 2026