Four athletes with ties to the University of Sydney have been named in the Ord Minnett Aussie Sharks squad for the upcoming World Aquatics World Cup Division 2 in Malta, as Australia begins its campaign towards a home World Cup Finals later this year.
Head Coach Tim Hamill has selected a 16-man squad that blends youth and experience, with the tournament set to take place from 7-13 April serving as a key step on the road to the World Cup Finals in Sydney this July.
Among those selected is Zac Izzard, a current University of Sydney student and Elite Athlete Program member, his inclusion reflects strong recent form and growing influence within the national set up.
He was joined by Loui Schuler, an EAP alumnus and former USYD student, who brings valuable experience to the squad, along with Tristan Glanzing, a University of Sydney alumnus, and Jacob Mercep, who has previously represented the Sydney Uni Water Polo Club.
Together, the group highlights the continued presence of Sydney Uni athletes within Australia’s high-performance water polo pathways, contributing to a squad that also features eight Olympians and a number of emerging players set to gain international experience.
While Australia has already secured qualifications for the World Cup Finals as host nations, the Malta tournament presents an important opportunity to build combinations and return to regular international competition following a quieter 2025 season.
Australia has been drawn in Group A, where they will face host nation Malta, along with China and Singapore in the group stages, with the large tournament field set to provide a variety of new international match-ups.
With the World Cup Final to be held on home soil later this year, the Division 2 campaign marks an important early step, and for Sydney Uni’s representatives, another opportunity to perform on the international stage.
