England and South Africa name their teams for the Coronation Cup 2012
Audi International Polo Guards Polo Club Sunday 22 July
When the Hurlingham Polo Association announced that England would play South Africa in the Coronation Cup 2012 – the showcase match at the Audi International Polo event at Guards Polo Club on Sunday 22 July – there was much interest in who would play for the visitors. South Africa has, in recent years, been developing some outstanding players and is expected to put up a strong performance.
The Equus & Co-sponsored South African team will have to be at the very top of its game though on Sunday 22 July as Audi England will be fielding one of its strongest and most experienced teams for many years. England will once again be led by Luke Tomlinson (7 goals). He will be joined by James Beim (7 goals), his brother Mark Tomlinson (6 goals), and Malcolm Borwick (6 goals). Both Luke and James have been on top form playing for the high-goal Salkeld team this year along with England team coach Jose Donoso. The England reserves are James Harper (6) and Max Routledge (5).
The South African team will be captained by Stuart Erskine (7), known by everyone in the polo world as “Sugar”. He will be joined by the talented eight-goaler Ignus du Plessi, who is currently in action for the Zacara team in the British Open Championships, his younger brother Jean du Plessis (6) and Chris MacKenzie (5). Reserve is Tom de Bruin, who played so well for Clarita Black when winning the Al Habtoor Royal Windsor Cup at Guards Polo Club recently.
England has won the Coronation Cup for the past two years – defeating New Zealand in 2010 and Brazil in 2011. It will be looking for a third win, especially as the home side comprehensively defeated South Africa in its previous encounter in this match, which took place in 1994.
In recognition of HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the Hurlingham Polo Association has agreed that the winners of the morning game will receive a new Diamond Jubilee Trophy. The teams taking part in this match are Audi Young England v How To Spend It.Com Young Commonwealth. The players for these teams will be announced soon.
Audi International, Guards Polo Club, Windsor – Coronation Cup – 1500hrs the game will be streamed live on www.hurlinghampolo.com
Audi England Equus & Co South Africa
James Beim (7) Chris Mackenzie (5)
Mark Tomlinson (6) Jean Du Plessis (6)
Luke Tomlinson (7, capt) Ignus Du Plessis (8)
Malcolm Borwick (6) Stewart Erskine (7, capt)
Reserves Reserve
James Harper (6) Tom de Bruin (6)
Max Routledge (5)
Audi International Polo Series
The Hurlingham Polo Association (HPA), the sport’s governing body, supported by Audi, the premium car company, has created this year a new series of Polo Internationals to be known as the Audi International Polo Series. This series features three Internationals, including the newly named Audi International at Guards Polo Club, near Windsor (formerly the Cartier International) – one of the highlights of the British summer season and undoubtedly the biggest UK polo event of the year.
Having sponsored the England Polo Team since 2005, the creation of this series was a natural progression for Audi to sponsor a Test Match series, providing additional platforms for England to play against some of the world’s top polo teams. This investment by Audi in the International Polo Series, together with its existing sponsorship of the England polo team, makes the car company the biggest supporter of polo in the UK.
David Woodd, Chief Executive of the HPA, said: “Audi and the HPA have been working very closely together with the England team and their increased involvement with this International Series is fantastic news for polo.”