GB Men’s EDP squad announced for 2026

We recently announced the 2026 Women's EDP Squad and we are now pleased to confirm the men’s squad too. 

Thirty-four men have been selected for the men’s programme which runs as a combined Great Britain and England under-21 programme.  

Harry Davies is a new Welsh member of the squad while Tommy Austin, Angus Miller and Oliver Wilson represent Scotland. Tommy is one of two Senior capped players having played 24 times for Scotland.  He will be looking to build on this in Chile where he is part of the Scottish team bidding for a place in this summer’s FIH Men’s World Cup. 

University of Exeter siblings James and Sam Carleton return to the squad, joined by large contingent of nine players from the university. James is the other Senior capped player.  He represented England in the FIH Pro League during a successful 2025 which included a bronze medal at the Sultan of Johor Cup as part of the GB under-21 team. 

The squad includes a blend of experiences and newcomers. Fourteen of the English players were part of the 2025 Junior World Cup team which finished 9th, winning five out of six games. This included Max Anderson, Matt Hughson and Alex Chihota who now move out of the under-21 age group and will be supported to transition into Senior international hockey with opportunities to train with the Senior programme.   

Transitioning players from age group to Senior international hockey is a critical aspect of the EDP programme and we plan to bring the programmes closer together, with more opportunities for players to gain exposure of the intensity of the Senior game. 

In confirming the squad for 2026 Jon Bleby Head Coach said: “We’ve taken a little longer to select the squad than in previous years which has given us a chance to see players numerous times and over a longer period. Congratulations to all the players who have made the final squad.  

"We kick off our 2026 competitive season at Easter as England when we play a 3-matchseries versus Ireland. We then revert to GB in May before we return to a Home Nation phase to prepare for the Eurohockey Junior Championships.   

"Last year’s performances at the Johor Cup and the FIH Hockey Junior World Cup showed this group has very high potential. The players competed with courage, skill and real togetherness, and we’re proud of the progress we made against some of the best teams in the world. 

"Now the challenge is to build on that momentum. With the talent and hunger in this squad, we believe we can turn strong performances into podium finishes at next year’s European Cup and return to the Johor Cup with genuine ambitions of winning the trophy again. It’s an exciting journey ahead, and this group is ready to take the next step”