England women look set for a relegation scrap in the FIH Hockey Pro League after ending the India leg bottom of the standings.
Relegation from the nine-strong league for the first time since the global league was launched in 2019 would be an embarrassment for well-funded England Hockey.
It would also leave David Ralph’s side facing the prospect of playing the Nations Cup next season against teams outside the world’s top 10.
On Friday and Saturday, England lost 5-1 and 6-0 to world No.1 the Netherlands, with several players facing the Oranje for the first time.
They are now six matches without a win in normal time since beating Belgium in December, their only outright victory of the 2024/25 season.
However, Ralph has used the Pro League to test out plenty of new faces, with 17 players making their England debuts in the last two mini legs in Argentina and India.
England will play six of their remaining eight games at home.
England next play in mid-June in a double header mini cluster featuring Argentina, Australia and Spain.
They finish their campaign with a double header trip to Germany, a final Pro League weekend which could decide their fate.
FIH Pro League women’s standings
India scored a 1-0 win over Germany on Saturday to leapfrog above England at the foot of the Pro League standings.
India have a tough task against the Dutch on Monday and Tuesday to end their home set of matches.
India finish their Pro League campaign on the road in Europe, playing China, Belgium, Argentina and Australia.
