Four Wales Players Earn GB Call For London

By Hannah Blackwell

Four Welsh players have been named across the Great Britain men’s and women’s squads for the upcoming FIH Pro League Series.

Sarah Jones has been named in the senior women’s squad to face Belgium and China, with Jacob Draper, Rupert Shipperley and Toby Reynolds-Cotterill included to face India and Belgium for the senior men’s squad.

The FIH Pro League 2022/23 takes place in seven countries including Britain, where there will be two mini tournaments taking place from 26 May – 21 June.

GB get started on Friday 26 May at the Lee Valley Hockey Centre in London with the women’s squad taking on China from 5pm while the men get underway on Saturday 27 May against India.

After two mini tournaments in Argentina and New Zealand, the men’s squad lie second in the overall standings having won four and drawn four matches, while the women’s squad are in sixth place in the standings.

It's squad announcement time!!

Twenty two players have been selected for the women's and men's squads for the first mini tournament of FIH Pro League London.

Check the full story – https://t.co/3cGj9lbSYN

Still time to book your tickets now from- https://t.co/XtLvLIxHQg pic.twitter.com/7qUGu87Iob

— Great Britain Hockey (@GBHockey) May 23, 2023

Hockey Wales performance director Kevin Johnson said: “It’s great to see all our GB senior players included in this squad selection of upcoming home matches and I’m sure they will do us proud with their performances as our own hockey family get the chance to see them either perform live or on the TV coverage.

“A special mention to Toby Reynolds-Cotterill as if he gains his first GB cap in this series it will be a timely recognition of his continued good form in international hockey, following on from his World Cup performances in India at the start of this year.”

https://twitter.com/HockeyWales/status/1661018083165876224?s=20

GB women’s team head coach David Ralph said: “We are looking forward to getting started in London and taking advantage of the home crowd support.

“The tournament in New Zealand offered us the vital challenge of competing against Australia who are just above us in the rankings while London gives us a chance to see where we are at against the likes of Germany and Belgium.”

Men’s head coach Paul Revington said: “The squad performed well in New Zealand and we are in a good position in the standings ahead of the mini tournaments in London.

“I’ve really seen this squad grow over the last few years and I know that the squad will be wanting to continue their development.

“We aren’t going to be complacent though because we know how challenging the upcoming matches will be, but we will all be ready to show how far we’ve come as a squad.”