New Zealand Building on Players Success at World Junior Lacrosse Championship

Australian Box Lacrosse used the 2025 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship, as part of the player dispensations, to help further develop box lacrosse in the southern hemisphere by welcoming two players from New Zealand, Nathan Honeyfield and Harley Stevens, to their roster. 

Honeyfield (6'1", 175lbs, 2008) and Stevens (6'0", 220lbs, 2006) are both right-handed defenders and hail from Te Awamutu, Waikto, New Zealand and play for the Te Awamutu Sports & Recreation Club - Lions. The experience they gained at the World Juniors has opened New Zealand up to the benefits of box lacrosse.

"Box lacrosse is giving Waikato players heaps of chances to improve. With Nathan and Harley from Waikto helping coach locally, young players are getting more touches, sharper skills, and learning to work as a team," said William Chisholm Te Awamutu Lacrosse Coach and leading advocate for box lacrosse in New Zealand. 

[PHOTO: Nathan Honeyfield #14, handles the ball against Canada during the Bronze Medal Game of the 2025 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship in Kingston, ON.]

"Lacrosse is still a small sport in New Zealand, but it's growing fast. Box lacrosse gives players more touches, better positioning, and teamwork in tight spaces. With lacrosse heading to the Olympics, every practice and game is a chance for Kiwi players to develop skills and dream big on the international stage." Chisholm added.

Honeyfield and Stevens are certainly taking advantage of every opportunity available. Honeyfield got his first taste of box at the 2025 IIJL Commonwealth Cup. Upon returning to New Zealand he recruited his teammate Stevens to join Australia at the 2025 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship in Kingston, ON. The duo made an immediate impact for the Aussies. Their enthusiasm for box has been contagious and sparked the rebirth of a box lacrosse league in the area. 

[PHOTO: Harley Stevens #44, gets hist stick in the lane on defence against Canada during Round-Robin play at the 2025 IIJL World Junior Lacrosse Championship in Kingston, ON.]

"With support from Chrischurch's Ashan Barr and Canterbury rep Liam Griffiths, the Chirstchurch box league is giving young players more chances to play, learn from experienced athletes, and develop skills that transfer to field lacrosse, and sixes too. We're looking forward to seeing the Symons brothers take to the floor for their first international matches." Chisholm added mentioning the Symons brothers who will be two players, along with Honeyfield and Stevens, representing New Zealand at the 2026 IIJL Commonwealth Cup in Altona, VIC, Australia from February 28 - March 2, 2026 at the Alan Lewer Box Court, home of Alton Lacrosse Club.

Chisholm also expressed his application of Australian Box Lacrosse and Canadian Lacrosse League for developing box lacrosse internationally. "We're so thankful New Zealand has been included in the 2026 IIJL Commonwealth Cup. With Australia as our closest international opportunity and Canada travelling across the world to compete, our players gain invaluable experience and develop skills without the huge expense of most international travel. It's a big boost for growing lacrosse at home [in New Zealand]." 

Every game of the 2026 IIJL Commonwealth Cup will stream live on YouTube with links across social media. Schedule, with Canadian Time Zones, will be listed leading up to the event on the CLL website and social media profiles.