Following a meeting on Friday 21 July 2023, the Stewards of the HPA have issued the following statement outlining a number of keys steps planned to strengthen the participation of British players in the sport.

Against the background of another highly successful polo season, especially at the high goal level, the Stewards concluded that it is an important time to take stock of the long-term direction of the sport in the UK.  We are agreed that the primary objective of the HPA is the growth and sustainability of polo in the UK, balancing the freedom patrons should have in the composition of their teams with the need to develop and support British players in the sport at all levels. We are also agreed that, as Stewards of the national governing body, we need to do more to support British players, with the aim to establish a clear pathway to ultimately have a British player in every team, consistent with the approach taken by polo national governing bodies around the world.

To achieve this objective the HPA is setting out several important steps which we believe with the cooperation from the sport as a whole will lead to more British players playing at all levels and a strengthening of British polo.

Firstly, by way of a reminder, the rules for sports national governing bodies regarding the provision of endorsements for International Sportsperson visas, as set out by the Home Office, are well defined. These visas are only for elite sportspeople and coaches who:

  • are internationally established and whose employment will make a significant contribution to the development of their sport at the highest level in the UK
  • will base themselves in the UK
  • will be filling a post that cannot be filled by a suitable British citizen, or by a person who has the right to enter or stay in the UK without restriction, or who has been granted indefinite leave to remain

Following this meeting the Stewards are resolved to ensure these criteria are fully adhered to when endorsements are applied for from November 2023 for the 2024 season. We will provide further details as to how this process will be managed in due course.

In addition, the Stewards resolved to work across the polo community to take the necessary steps with the ultimate aim of a British player in every team and at all levels.  This will be progressed alongside the new HPA Performance Pathway, which has been developed to support the growth of young British players aiming for a career in polo.

The Stewards believe this is a key initiative to underpin the success of our sport in the UK and the participation of British players.