Statement by the HPA regarding confirmation of Will Lucas being confirmed as the new HPA Chairman:

“We are delighted to announce that Will Lucas has been confirmed as the new HPA Chairman, following the HPA’s Council Meeting on 13 December. Taking over from Nick Wiles, who has served as Chairman since 2019, Will’s term will continue until 2027.

Will is no stranger to the governance of the HPA; he was previously Chair of both the Umpire & Rules and the Handicap Committees and was appointed Vice Chairman of the HPA by Nick in 2019. 

A third-generation polo player whose father and grandfather were also passionate about the sport, Will learned the game at Cowdray before turning professional at 24. Will played professional polo for 23 years, with over 50 appearances for the England team, and is now based in Gloucestershire with his wife Zahra, where together they run Longdole Polo Club, focusing on making polo fun, friendly, and accessible to all.

Speaking of the new role, Will said: “Polo has always been a huge part of my life and I am thrilled to be proposed as the next Chairman of the HPA. Nick has been a fantastic Chairman and I know we are all enormously grateful for his dedication to polo, which has led us through a tumultuous four years. I am looking forward to growing the sport, whilst continuing to be mindful of safety and welfare, and I am excited to be taking the game into the future”.

The HPA would like to extend our thanks to Nick Wiles, for his hard work and dedication as Chairman of the HPA during his term. Nick will remain on the board of Stewards as outgoing Chairman, and we look forward to his continued involvement with polo.

New committees

As Chairman, Will Lucas has named his new committees ahead of the 2024 season: Sean Donovan-Smith will take up the position of Vice Chairman, and we have welcomed Nick Evans and Will Emerson to the Stewards following their elections by the Clubs.

The Umpire & Rules and Polo Pony Welfare committees have been combined to form a new Rules & Welfare committee under the leadership of David Morley, the existing Chair of both committees. The Selection Committee – International has been renamed and formed as the International Committee, with Luke Tomlinson remaining at the helm. You can find full details of all the HPA Committees on this link.