Six players who cut their teeth playing hockey in the Far North Coast Hockey competition are playing in Hockey Australia's Under 21 Men's and Women's Championships starting at the Goonellabah Hockey Fields starting on Wednesday.

Tyler Arundell, Luca Brown, Tom Brown, Cooper Stahl, Erin Ledbitter and 17-year-old Trinity Catholic College student Taquira McGrath, who still plays for Northern Star in the Far North Coast Hockey A Grade competition, are part of the finest array of the nation's hockey talents under 21 years of age. McGrath is the youngest player selected for the championships.

Taquira McGrath, who stills play in the Far North Coast Hockey competition, is the strongest player selected in the championships. Photo: Adrian McGrath

"The best under 21-year-old hockey players throughout Australia are taking part in the Under 21 Championships. Some will go on to represent the Kookaburras and the Hockeyroos," said Far North Coast Hockey's Rhonda Mathers.

"It is great that six players who played hockey at Far North Coast have been selected for Queensland and NSW. There are five days of hockey and it will be top class action."

Cooper Stahl, who plays for Labrador in the Gold Coast Hockey Association, is captain of the NSW Blues side.

Cooper Stahl will be playing against his team-mates from the Labrador club on the Gold Coast when NSW Blues meet Queensland. Photo: Shez Napper Images

"There will be lots of love out there," 20-year-old Stahl joked to the Lismore App, as he will be playing against Labrador players Tyler Arundell and Luca Brown, who are representing Queensland.

"But there will be plenty of competitiveness, We want one over them."

Stahl, whose younger brother Oscar plays for Lismore Thistles Soccer Club in Football Far North Coast's Premier Division, said his NSW Blues squad has been in training.

"We’ve been at the Lake Ainsworth Sport and Recreation Centre at Lennox Head the past few days training in Ballina and bonding as a team," said Stahl, a midfield player.

Tom Brown, who is from Coraki - like Taquira McGrath - is part of the NSW State side and plays for Ryde in the Sydney Premier League. He is also attached to the NSW Institute of Sport and was part of the Australian Under-21 Burras team at the Nations Invitational tournament in Spain.

Erin Ledbitter, part of the NSW Women's Under 21 State side, .

There will also be the finest Under 21 players from the ACT, South Australia, Tasmania Victoria, Western Australia, competi9g.

NSW play ACT in the first women's game on Wednesday at 10am with Queensland against Tasmania in the men's competition at 11am on Wednesday. There is action on Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, next Tuesday with the final on Wednesday, July 17.

For the full men's fixture list,with times, click here. For the full women's fixture list, with times, click here.