The draw of the groups for the IHF Super Globe has provided Sydney Uni HC with an exquisite challenge again. Like last year, Qatari host club Al Sadd chose to be put in Sydney Uni’s group – and many will remember the formidable fight Sydney took to last year’s Al Sadd squad around Olympic Gold medallist Nikola Karabatic and co. Great memories will be revived.

Again, like last year, the Oceania champions from Sydney will also face the current European Champions League winner at group stage. After having experienced their toughest match of the tournament against THW Kiel last year, this time HSV Hamburg awaits as the representative from the German Bundesliga. If there ever is a David vs Goliath match-up, this is it. Can Philipp Ender’s boys keep the game more open this year?

The third team Sydney Uni will meet in group A of the IHF Super Globe is not completely unknown either – Qatari club El Jaish last year beat the Australians 33-25 in the placement round. It has to be mentioned though that the SUHC was able to keep up with the army club when their European players were on the bench. It remains to be seen what El Jaish’s squad will look like this year – they certainly made headlines by hiring Nikolaj Markussen and HSV goalkeeper Dan Beutler last season, one has to expect a team dotted with quality players from the best European leagues.

In group B, European Champions League finalist FC Barcelona will meet African club champions Etoile Sportive Du Sahel, Asian champions Al Rayyan from Qatar and Pan-American champs Taubate.