The ONE Active Hockey One League today confirms the Melbourne Cobras have been granted a Hockey One League licence and will enter the national competition from Season 2026, fielding both men’s and women’s teams.
The announcement marks the completion of Hockey One’s formal Expansion Project, which commenced with an Invitation for Expressions of Interest (EOI) in February 2024 and attracted strong interest aligned to the League’s long-term growth strategy. The EOI process formed the first phase of Hockey One’s structured approach to identifying prospective new franchises and expanding the League footprint in a sustainable, high-performance way.
The Melbourne Cobras will have a strong link with India and the Indian diaspora in Australia while strengthening Victoria’s elite hockey pathway. It builds on recent momentum and investment supporting the development of a second Victorian Hockey One team, with the Cobras initiative linked to broader growth outcomes for hockey in the state.
The Cobras brand has also been publicly positioned as a club designed to connect communities and create new opportunities between India and Australia, with reported ambitions to foster a shared high-performance environment involving Australian and Indian player connections.
Sash Herceg, Executive Manager Hockey One, said the award of a licence reflects the strength of the bid and the value it brings to the competition.
“The Melbourne Cobras proposal demonstrated a compelling combination of high-performance intent, commercial potential and community connection. Awarding this licence is a significant milestone for Hockey One and completes the expansion process that began with the February 2024 EOI, as we continue to grow the League in a strategic and sustainable way,” said Herceg.
Hockey One Board Chair Steven Stewart said the decision aligns with the League’s vision to expand participation, audiences and elite opportunities nationally.
“The addition of the Melbourne Cobras is an important step forward for Hockey One. This is the outcome of a thorough expansion project and reflects our confidence in the Cobras organisation, through Hockey Victoria, to add strength to our competition—on and off the field—when they join from Season 2026,” said Stewart.
Andrew Skillern, Hockey Victoria CEO, said Hockey Victoria are delighted to be bringing a sporting team into the Australian market with a clear purpose.
“The Melbourne Cobras has two clear objectives aligned to Hockey Victoria’s Strategic Plan. One is to significantly increase the growth of the game in the Victorian South-Asian community in line with population growth. Secondly, to extend our commercial relationships beyond our traditional models, allowing us to re-invest into Hockey for the benefit of the game”, Skillern said.
Further details on the Melbourne Cobras’ Season 2026 entry, including high-performance programs, matchday arrangements and membership information, will be released in due course. Supporters can follow updates via the club’s official channels and via website https://melbournecobras.com/
