GB Call-Up For Welsh Ace Thomas

By Rob Cole

She’s just had 10 days in Gran Canaria, she’s got three weeks coming up on the Gold Coast with Wales at the Commonwealth Games and now Rose Thomas can look forward to a week in Argentina next month.

The trip to South America is with the GB hockey squad and means the Holcombe HC will become the first Welsh women to play for the Olympic champions since double Olympian Sarah Thomas in 2012.

Thomas is one of eight uncapped players in the 20-sgtrong GB squad for the five Test series against the world ranked No 3 team, joining Amy Costello, Emily Defroand, Nicola Cochrane, Jo Hunter, Hannah Martin, Ellie Rayer and Anna Toman.

Thomas has been playing for Wales since she was 13 and joined Holcombe this season from Wimbledon, where she won the Investec Conference East League. She first made the GB Centralised training group during the post Rio 2016 assessment process.

Captain Alex Danson is in line to make her 100th appearance for Great Britain in Rosario, but the experienced duo of Maddie Hinch and Lily Owsley are not selected in order to give other players a chance to test themselves at the highest level.

“We have deliberately selected a GB squad, despite the proximity of the Commonwealth Games, to allow us to give experiential developmental opportunity of playing a world leading team to athletes early enough in the Olympic cycle,” said Team GB head coach Dean Kerry.

“We look forward to seeing how those who will receive new GB caps rise to the opportunity and understand the developmental journey ahead. Argentina is my favourite place to go and play test match hockey because the crowds are so passionate and knowledgeable.”

GB Women’s Hockey Squad
Giselle Ansley, Sophie Bray, Nicola Cochrane, Amy Costello, Alex Danson (captain), Emily Defroand, Sarah Haycroft, Jo Hunter, Hannah Martin, Shona McCallin, Hollie Pearne-Webb, Ellie Rayer, Sarah Robertson, Zoe Shipperley, Rose Thomas, Anna Toman, Susannah Townsend, Laura Unsworth, Ellie Watton, Nicola White

Fixtures (UK Time)
10 February – 9.30pm
11 February – 9.30pm
14 February – 9.30pm
17 February – 12:00am
17 February – 9.30pm