A last-minute rule change by the World Squash Federation has opened the door for local squash talent Fergus Hill to represent New Zealand on the world stage. Originally named as a reserve, the 16-year-old from Te Awamutu Squash Club will now travel to Cairo, Egypt in July as part of the New Zealand Junior Boys Team for the 2025 World Junior Squash Championships.
Fergus Hill. Photo: Dave Lintott, lintottphoto.co.nz
Hill, a Year 12 student at Hamilton Boys’ High School, was initially selected as the non-travelling reserve in the four-person boys team named by New Zealand Squash. A result of a decision by the World Squash Federation to reduce team sizes from six to four for the 2025 competition – intensifying competition for selection and narrowing the path for hopeful juniors across the country to compete in this elite competition.
Nevertheless, just one day after New Zealand Squash’s official team announcements in May, the World Squash Federation reversed its decision—reinstating six-person squads. This unexpected update prompted selectors to reconvene and expand the team, paving the way for Fergus and fellow junior player Jack Lord (Te Puke) to be officially included in the travelling team.
Fergus’s inclusion comes as no surprise for our local squash community, given the dedication, determination and accomplishments that he has already achieved in what is a truly incredible junior career. Having grown up on court, after picking up a squash racket as young child, alongside his other sporting loves of cricket and rugby, Fergus has quickly risen through the ranks with a cheeky and engaging style of squash play. This dedication and commitment to the sport saw Fergus, earlier this year, attaining the elite A2 grade – an exceptional accomplishment for someone just 16 years old.
Squash runs deep in Hill family. His great-grandfather Raymond Bowers was one of the founding members of the Te Awamutu Squash Club in the early 1960s. His grandparents Glenice and John Hill, his parents Scott and Rebecca Hill, and older brother Connor have all played the sport competitively. Notably, Connor was also a member of the New Zealand Junior Boys Team that competed at the 2023 World Championships in Melbourne and has been a great mentor and competitive rival for Fergus as they have both risen through the junior ranks.
Fergus’s pathway to selection hasn’t come without hard work. With strong competition among New Zealand juniors, he has committed to a demanding training schedule involving regular coaching, strength and conditioning sessions, and national tournaments and training camps throughout the country. None of which would be possible without his dedicated coaching and mentoring team of Ryan Peters, Matt Houlihan and Dave Werder; his many supporters; or his main sponsor Dunlop, alongside the Cornerstone Trust, Kiwanis Te Awamutu, Te Awamutu Squash Club and wider squash community who have all made contributions to help Fergus on his way to Egypt this year.
Beyond the court, squash has also brought Fergus opportunities for travel, friendship, and unforgettable experiences. One of the highlights of his year so far was competing in the New Zealand Junior Open in Christchurch, held alongside the New Zealand Open, where he got to watch world-class athletes including Kiwi squash icon and world #3 Paul Coll and fellow teammate and New Zealand Junior No 1 and world #145 Oliver Dunbar in action. No doubt, the upcoming trip to Cairo — competing against the best junior players in the world and visiting iconic landmarks like the pyramids — promises to be another memorable chapter in his young career.
Fergus is one of many young junior players representing Te Awamutu Squash Club with pride, with several other players also making their mark on the court and national stage in 2025.
Sixteen-year-old Charlee Neilson has been involved throughout 2025 in the national training squads; and has claimed individual placings at the Waikato Junior Open (1st), Waikato/Bay of Plenty Junior Open (1st), Waikato Secondary Schools Competition (1st), South Island Junior Open (2nd); as well as competed as part of the Waikato Bonus Team in the Mitchell Cup and placed first alongside fellow Te Awamutu Squash Club players Chloe and Sophie Chipperfield in the Waikato Secondary Schools competition for Te Awamutu College.
Similarly, 10-year-old Shelby Duncan has claimed two major titles – winning the U11 Girls Championships at both the Oceania Championships (April, Hamilton) and the North Island Junior Age Groups (June, Whangārei), placing second just this past weekend in the U11 Girls age group at the South Island Junior Age Group alongside Charlee Neilson (2nd U17 Girls) and Chloe Chipperfield (2nd U19 Girls).
With talent like this emerging from local courts, the future of squash in Te Awamutu and New Zealand is looking brighter than ever.
