30 Oct 2014

Whitelock takes year off from Black Sticks

11:52 am on 30 October 2014

The former Black Sticks captain Kayla Whitelock is taking a year out from hockey to start a family but still hopes to play at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Whitelock, née Sharland, who made her debut for the Black Stics 11 years ago and has played 229 Tests, is married to Crusaders flanker George Whitelock who's currenly playing in Japan.

Whitelock, who's just turned 30, was back home in Palmerston North last week letting family and Black Sticks coach Mark Hager know she was pregnant.

Black Sticks' Kayla Whitelock still hopes to compete at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Black Sticks' Kayla Whitelock still hopes to compete at the 2016 Rio Olympics. Photo: Photosport

However Whitelock says she's not ready to hang up her stick yet.

She says at this stage the plan is to play in next year's national hockey league and then reassess things after that.

"The Rio Olympics is always in the back of my mind, but we need to see how things go over the next 12 months."