Beeston’s Gareth Griffiths, Clifton Robinsons’ Holly Munro and Rebecca Daniel, of Uni of Durham, have been called up to represent Wales for the first time at this summer’s Commonwealth Games.
Hockey Wales announced its 38 athletes for Birmingham 2022 on Wednesday, which will include an array of Olympic medallists, 12 debutants and three uncapped players.
Leah Wilkinson will captain the women’s side alongside Beth Bingham and Sian French. Leading the men in Birmingham is the most capped Welsh male athlete, Lewis Prosser, with Luke Hawker and GB athlete Rupert Shipperley.
After impressing at the Women’s Junior World Cup in South Africa, Rebecca Daniel has been called up to the women’s team, while Gareth Griffiths and Holly Munro have also been selected in their respective senior squads for the first time.
Hockey Wales Director of Performance Kevin Johnson said: “Selection across both genders has been incredibly competitive, which is a sign of how strong our international teams currently are. We aim to build on recent successes and try to deliver our best finish at a Commonwealth Games.”
Johnson is also Wales women’s head coach and said his team selection reflected “how we want to play the game and what we need to have about us to face the challenges that await in Birmingham.”
He added: I’ve been impressed over the last year with the way the wider squad has pushed themselves as a group. While this will only make us stronger in the future, it has made this selection tough.”
Daniel makes her first senior tournament selection, coming off the back of the Junior World Cup in April, alongside fellow young players Millie Holme and Izzie Howell. Munro is also in line to get her first cap after being in our programme for several months.
“At the other end of the spectrum, we have the experience of eight players who are near to or beyond the 100 caps mark for Wales,” he added. “It is an encouraging blend of potential and experience as the team prepares for the exciting opportunity to play on the world stage once again.”
Wales men, who are setting about a milestone six months ahead of a first World Cup early next year, play Canada in their first match of the Games on July 30. Wales women also start off against Canada on July 29.
There will be a home nations clash in the men’s and women’s competition when Wales men take on England on Sunday July 31, and Wales women face the host nation on Aug 4.
Hockey Wales Men’s Squad for Birmingham Commonwealth Games
Toby Reynolds-Cotterill (GK) – Hampstead & Westminster (3 caps)
Dewi Roblin (GK) – Hampstead & Westminster (3 caps)
Gareth Furlong – Surbiton (124 caps)
Daniel Kyriakides – Hampstead & Westminster (93 caps)
Hywel Jones – Hampstead & Westminster (39 caps)
Ioan Wall – Cardiff & Met (38 caps)
Steve Kelly – Hampstead & Westminster (63 caps)
Lewis Prosser © – East Grinstead (161 caps)
Jacob Draper – Royal Beerschot (54 caps)
Dale Hutchinson – Cardiff & Met (90 caps)
Rupert Shipperley © – Hampstead & Westminster (80 caps)
Joe Naughalty – Brighton & Hove (106 caps)
Gareth Griffiths – Beeston (0 caps)
Rhys Bradshaw – Exeter University (29 caps)
Luke Hawker © – Cardiff & Met (103 caps)
James Carson – Old Georgians (81 caps)
Ben Francis – Wimbledon (77 caps)
Owain Dolan-Gray – Cardiff & Met (124 caps)
Hockey Wales Women’s Squad for Birmingham Commonwealth Games
Beth Bingham © – Holcombe (94 caps)
Ella Jackson (GK) – Swansea (35 caps)
Eloise Laity – Clifton Robinsons (59 caps)
Hannah Cozens – East Grinstead (55 caps)
Holly Munro – Clifton Robinsons (0 caps)
Izzie Howell – Zehlendorf Wespen (35 caps)
Izzy Webb – Clifton Robinsons (33 caps)
Jo Westwood – East Grinstead (120 caps)
Leah Wilkinson © – Surbiton (172 caps)
Livvy Hoskins – Clifton Robinsons (8 caps)
Millie Holme – Exeter University (8 caps)
Phoebe Richards – Clifton Robinsons (120 caps)
Rebecca Daniel – Durham University (0 caps)
Rose Thomas (GK) – Holcombe (81 caps)
Sarah Jones – Wimbledon (99 caps)
Sian French © – Bowdon Hightown (119 caps)
Sophie Robinson – Beeston (46 caps)
Xenna Hughes – Bowdon Hightown (107 caps)
