Looking ahead with HPA Chairman Will Lucas

My first season as Chairman of the HPA has passed in the blink of an eye, and we head into 2025 with plenty of ideas for the future, and some key achievements under our belts. With only four years at the helm, it’s not always easy to choose where to focus one’s energy, but the overarching aim for me is a well-governed and well-respected sport, with a clear structure and objectives, run by an efficient governing body to create a successful, inclusive, and sustainable polo community.

Looking after children and young players as they take up polo and forge their careers is a cause close to my own heart. Recent research points to enjoyment as being the most important factor for keeping young people in sport, and I believe it’s essential to keep sight of this for our young players. I hope to both look after their wellbeing and ensure that they have a clear route through the levels, that provides a rounded education and fosters a fun, supportive environment. From 2025 U16s will be restricted from playing at 12 Goal VL and above, with a new route under development for these players into elite sport that offers the chance for them to play at a high standard without some of the pressures that come with professional sport. There have of course been some strong opinions about this rule change, but I hope that the developments will eventually garner support from across the board as we endeavour to produce well-prepared, resilient young players who are ready for action when they make the transition to high goal.

The Performance Pathway, still in its infancy, has already made great strides into developing our young players. Junior polo has enjoyed a brilliant season, from the Pathway players on show in the Colts Cup and Stagshead Trophy, both played alongside the 4 Goal Super League series, to an amazing weekend in Cowdray for the Pony Club championships which saw many children flourishing. These players are the professionals of tomorrow, representing not just our on-field future but also our umpires, coaches, and managers; being able to offer them the tailored support they need is vital to ensuring we keep them in the sport and nurture their careers.

This commitment extends into the introduction of the Home Grown Player rule, which will apply at 12 Goal VL and below from 2025. This is never an easy one to navigate, with myriad different interests to consider. The HPA is determined to support British talent on and off the field, but we must also consider the wider ramifications when introducing rules that change the high goal landscape; we want England to remain among the best places in the world to play polo and must continue to welcome those that will support and develop the polo scene. Nevertheless, the Stewards have approved the intention to consider the expansion of the Home Grown Player rule in the future to other levels of Victor Ludorum tournaments. Let there be no doubt this will be subject to further consultation and discussion and is not a definite outcome.

Increasing accessibility to the sport – not just in terms of playing but through other touch points – is another key area to ensuring polo can thrive. Many of us reminisce about the glory days of International Day, while the changing dynamics of sponsorship prove increasingly challenging, and we must develop new and innovative ideas to attract sponsors into polo. Many areas are under consideration including ticketing, playing schedule, and sponsorship, and we look forward to another historic day in 2025 while remaining open to new ideas about how to create an unmissable event for our polo community and the public.

It would be difficult to discuss the future without touching on social licence to operate (SLO), which we have all heard repeatedly in recent years and many continue to dismiss. The HPA is funding ongoing research, the first results from which will be shared soon; the fact remains that there are currently some real risks to equestrian sport. It has never been more important than now to communicate with the public effectively about polo, not just to give more people the chance to experience this incredible sport, but to increase and keep the public’s acceptance and show that polo continues to have a place in Great Britain and Ireland. A new Participation Working Group is exploring how to bring our grassroots clubs together and welcome new players into the sport in an affordable and sustainable way. Whether it’s working with these clubs to communicate with their local community, opening up access to polo through wider schemes, or educating the public about polo, the HPA is working continually to protect, promote, and grow our sport in this changing world.

Many of the rule changes this year have reflected our commitments to safety and welfare; a huge amount of work took place surrounding concussion, and while this rule may not be the most popular, it is vital to keep players safe in our sport and as the governing body it is our responsibility to put these measures in place. We have made changes to our pony welfare rules, including those surrounding whips, spurs, and water; some of these were overdue, and some are the first steps on a longer journey. I would urge everyone in polo to reflect on how we operate; together with the other equestrian disciplines we must demonstrate that we are a horse-first sport that considers welfare a priority, in order to maintain a secure future for polo.

Looking ahead to 2025, we will celebrate the 150^th anniversary of the Hurlingham Polo Association, which as many will know originated as the Hurlingham Polo Committee and drew up the first rules in 1875 at the Hurlingham Club. As one of the world’s oldest sporting organisations, the HPA has navigated an immeasurable number of historic moments, standing fast against many challenges; it is my ambition that we continue to do so in the future. Like any Chairman, my aim is to make positive changes during my leadership, and to have made lasting improvements when I hand over to my successor in 2027.

First published in the Autumn 2024 edition of Hurlingham Polo magazine