Wales Name Experienced Squad For 2021 EuroHockey Championships II

Head coach Kevin Johnson has named an experienced Welsh women's squad to contest the 2021 EuroHockey Championships II between 15-21 August 2021.

A total of 13 of the 18 players who recorded a fifth-placed finish at the same tournament in 2019 will be heading to the Czech Republic later this week, including former GB Elite Development Programme (EDP) member Beth Bingham.

Having only returned from the Tokyo this week after winning Olympic bronze with Great Britain, captain Leah Wilkinson and Sarah Jones are rested from the squad, while Hannah Cozens misses out as she continues her rehabilitation from injury. Sian French will therefore captain the squad, with Rose Thomas as her vice-captain.

Defender Xenna Hughes - daughter of former footballer Mark Hughes - will play her 100th game for Wales while Livvy Hoskins and Millie Holme will make their senior international debuts.

A top five finish for Wales will see them reach the 2021 Women's European Qualifier taking place in October where they will battle it out for a place at the 2022 Women's Hockey World Cup. In addition, a strong showing will also see them qualify for the 2022 EuroHockey Qualifying Tournament, where they could reach the top tier of European hockey in 2023 for the first time in two decades.

They open their campaign against Russia at 10:15 BST on Sunday 15 August before playing Lithuania at 15:45 BST the following day. They play Poland in their final game at 13:30 BST on Wednesday 18 August before the classification and knockout matches follow on 20 and 21 August.