Jacob Draper And Ben Francis Face Aussies For GB Men’s Hockey U21s

Action from Welsh club hockey. Pic: Hockey Wales

The GB Under 21 Men’s Hockey team, containing rising Welsh stars Jacob Draper and Ben Francis, will take on Australia in the final of the Sultan of Johor Cup final on Sunday (29 October). Great Britain beat India 2-1 to confirm their place in the final. Goals from Tom Sorsby and captain Jack Waller meant that Jon Bleby’s side maintained their 100% record in the tournament to date. After the game a delighted head coach, Bleby, said: “We are proud of the players’ performances so far, we are learning more from each game and it was a good team performance against a tough Indian side. Our goal now is to perform well in the final and bring home the title.”

The GB Under 21 Men’s Hockey team, containing rising Welsh stars Jacob Draper and Ben Francis, will take on Australia in the final of the Sultan of Johor Cup final on Sunday (29 October).

Great Britain beat India 2-1 to confirm their place in the final. Goals from Tom Sorsby and captain Jack Waller meant that Jon Bleby’s side maintained their 100% record in the tournament to date.

After the game a delighted head coach, Bleby, said: “We are proud of the players’ performances so far, we are learning more from each game and it was a good team performance against a tough Indian side. Our goal now is to perform well in the final and bring home the title.”

Welsh Hockey has enjoyed a great year and Draper and Francis’ involvement in a GB national squad is not all there is to shout about. Six Welsh Women’s team members were included in the GB Elite Development Programme squad earlier this month.

The GB EDP has been launched as part of a strategic objective during the Tokyo 2020 cycle with the aim of developing medal winning Olympians of the future, with the selected athletes having shown their potential to achieve that during a comprehensive selection process.

A total of 36 players have been chosen for the Women’s GB EDP and, while the programme is not age categorised, it has been designed for athletes aged between 19-23. Each of the Home Nations are well represented in the squad, with Scotland and Wales both boasting six players.

Beth Bingham, Hannah Cozens, Ella Jackson, Danni Jordan, Delyth Thomas and Jo Westwood are the ‘super six’ and a chance to defend the British title at the Tokyo Olympics is the incentive

The squad will attend an induction camp at Lilleshall between 31 October – 2 November and an exciting new training and competition programme will follow shortly after.

Women’s GB EDP Squad for Induction Camp at Lilleshall
Kate Axford (Exeter University)
Beth Bingham (Holcombe)
Georgie Blackwood (East Grinstead)
Louisa Bray (Durham University)
Ella Bromley (Nottingham University)
Millie Brown (Clydesdale Western)
Freya Bull (Birmingham University)
Esme Burge (Beeston)
Alicia Caillard (Birmingham University)
Charlotte Childs (Durham University)
Hannah Cozens (Buckingham)
Meg Crowson (Exeter University)
Lorna Cruickshank (Durham University)
Ella Cusack (Loughborough Students)
Charlotte Daly (Loughborough Students)
Tessa Howard (Durham University)
Holly Hunt (Birmingham University)
Ella Jackson (Buckingham)
Sarah Jamieson (Grove Menzieshill)
Danni Jordan (Buckingham)
Katie Knight (Exeter University)
Pippa Lock (East Grinstead)
Lydia Macdonell (Birmingham University)
Lucy Millington (Loughborough Students)
Holly Munro (Birmingham University)
Lizzie Neal (Loughborough Students)
Miriam Pritchard (Loughborough University)
Katie Robertson (Grove Menzieshill)
Laura Swanson (Edinburgh University)
Delyth Thomas (Birmingham University)
Emma Trunks (Holcombe)
Charlotte Watson (Dundee Wanderers)
Jo Westwood (Holcombe)
Phoebe Willars (Leicester)
Alice Wills (Birmingham University)
Lily Wolstenholme (Bowdon)