Twelve women have been selected for Wales Senior Women’s first international fixture of the season, the notoriously technical and fast-paced EuroHockey Indoor Championships Division II. The team will travel to France later next week for the tournament, which takes place in Cambrai from 22-24 January.
Those selected include seasoned internationals Abi Welsford (captain) and International Athlete Ambassador for Hockey in Wales, Jo Westwood, but as well as experienced senior players, the squad also boasts a number of newcomers to the senior women’s team.
Stasi Knight of Reading Hockey Club and National Age Group player Lowri Ratti from Swansea City HC, who are each just 16-years-old, will be making their first appearance in the senior women’s set up, whilst a determined Alice Mundy from Gwent Hockey Club makes an impressive debut aged 29.
The women will face an experienced opposition in Division II and will be aiming for good team performances, improvement from game to game and a solid final standing. Girls National Age Group Head Coach Walid Abdo takes on the role of Head Coach for the tournament and following selection, said:
“We are looking forward to the Indoors and pitting our wits against a quality opposition. The girls haven’t had a lot of time together but in training they have adapted quickly and have demonstrated that they are more than capable of making those quick psychological and tactical decisions that will be needed to do well in the tournament.”
The EuroHockey Indoor Championships have previously proven to be a springboard for new talent along the development pathway, and the fast pace of game is a test of how well players can adapt their skills under pressure.
Women’s Team Manager Ben Eaton, said: “Indoor events are an excellent way to develop technical skills and tactical awareness. The fast pace of the game means it really tests player’s close skills and passing under pressure and fatigue. It also shows the management team which players have the ability to absorb new information quickly and apply that to their game.”
Details of the LIVE STREAM will be available closer to the time. For more information on the 2016 EuroHockey Indoor Championships II, visit the event here.
Keep up to date during the tournament with live updates via the FIH results service TMS, here.
You can also follow the Wales Senior Women on Twitter.
Wales Senior Women European Indoor Squad, Cambrai 2016
Ella Jackson (GK) – University of Exeter
Katrin Budd – Swansea City Hockey Club
Hannah Cozens – Loughborough Students Hockey Club
Abi Welsford (C) – Swansea City Hockey Club
Isobel Webb – Swansea City Hockey Club
Stasi Knight – Reading Hockey Club
Xenna Hughes – East Grinstead Hockey Club
Rebecca Heywood – Buckingham Hockey Club
Jo Westwood – Swansea City Hockey Club
Julie Whiting – FC Lyon Hockey
Alice Mundy – Gwent Hockey ClubView Post
Lowri Ratti – Swansea City Hockey Club
Management Team
Manager – Ben Eaton
Coach – Walid Abdo
Assistant Coach – Vicky Joel
Physiotherapist – Sarah Harlington
MEDIA INVITE
Members of the Wales Senior Women will be available for interview on their final preparation, strictly by request, details as follows:
Sunday 17th January
10:15 – 10:45
Caerleon Campus, USW, NP18 3QT
To arrange an interview slot, please contact Rebecca Jenkins:
[email protected]
029 2033 4983 / 07937 448 963
