HOME     |      FEATURES     |      CLUBHOUSE     |      CAMPS     |      LINKS     |      ABOUT US     |      STORE     |      ADVERTISE
PlanetFieldHockey.com Home  

Highlight articles
from the last
International Europe Wales
Wales: Senior Men?s European Trophy preparation schedule There are 13 comments on this articlex13
Wales
Wales
June 2, 2005 4 out of 5
Welsh Hockey
> Page Views 3578

The Wales Senior Men?s hockey squad has a tough international programme ahead in the summer culminating in the European Trophy in Rome this September. Back to back games against England on the new ATP complex at Swansea on Saturday 25th and Sunday 26th June kick things off. The squad to play against England will be announced after the Training Camp on 17 - 19 June when 16 will be selected from the 28 players competing for places.

These are followed by tests against Belgium, Ireland, France, Poland and Scotland before heading off to Italy for the 5 match tournament. Success in Rome would lead to qualification for the World Cup qualifier in China later in 2006.

The Welsh side, ranked 13th in Europe, is a fast improving, athletic squad with a blend of experience and youth. Paul Edwards (Cannock HC) is closing in on the record for senior men?s caps and former skipper Zak Jones (Hampstead and Westminster HC) has worn the Welsh shirt over 80 times.

Wales has found a new goal scorer in Ollie Cooper who has 2 hat tricks to his name already and, supported by Ben Rogers and Matt Ruxton, the forward line will trouble any international defence. Coach Mike Williamson has added Brian Hibbert from South Africa as assistant coach and Grahame Mansell Grace as goal keeper coach to the support team and is looking forward to the squad making further strides this year after the Celtic Cup win in 2004.

A full supporting programme has been arranged for the weekend of 25th and 26th June in Swansea with the Welsh Veterans (40+) playing their English counterparts on Saturday. Wales Senior Women will also be playing on both days against England U-21?s as part of their own build up to the European Trophy in Azerbaijan in September.
E-Mail this article to a friend
Rate This Article

Your opinion counts.
Rate this article or enter your comments below.

Opinions expressed here do not represent the official views of PlanetFieldHockey.com or its staff. Comments will be removed if they are considered offensive or of a personal nature.
Comments on this article
PADSTER
06-02-2005  4:43 pm
Report this post
Ruxton
Hey Matty, they say that you can trouble any international defence - I know I had a good chuckle about that one too!!! Stomach still hurts actually....

I'll see if I can keep count of all those goals you score.....I haven't taken math for a while but I'm pretty sure I can still say 'nnnil pwaaaahh'!!!

Anywayz son, good luck & let me know how you get on.
hc
06-02-2005  9:02 pm
Report this post
Is Mark Ramage & Tim Jones in this squad?
Jim
06-03-2005  3:55 am
Report this post
Wales
Cant remember Ollie Cooper troubling too many TOP CLASS defences either, h well, good lucky anyway boys.
jm
06-03-2005  5:33 am
Report this post
Welsh Hockey are stepping it up this year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
All the best!
english
06-03-2005  8:49 am
Report this post
i hear you are bringing back a few old names ?
Interseted englishman
06-08-2005  7:23 am
Report this post
Team
is there a squad list available for the Welsh team, an who out of that are being looked at (if at all) by Leeboy?

Has Zak still got more in him to be selected, someone so inspirational to many that has had so many injuries. Still a quality player, hope he can help the younger elsh boys.

What do you think about the squad's chances against anin experienced England side?
PADSTER
06-08-2005  11:38 am
Report this post
Welsh Hockey
Wow - I can't believe that we're actually talking about Welsh hockey here....I always thought they were like an English D-team! Isn't that the case with all Welsh "sportsmen" (& I use the term very loosely!!) though, they were all born English but knew they'd never get into the team so made up some Welsh grandfather called Gareth Jones or something like that - it's not as if anyone would check....coz no one cares!!!!

Just kiddin' Matty - good luck to all you Welsh dragons, would love to see you beat the yanks, or whatever the English are called!?!?!

Leeboy should seriously take a look at Ruxton for GB - he'll be the one who's just got a yellow card for swearing at the umpire & then throw his toys out of the pram.....but at least he's quick!!!
jm
06-09-2005  5:13 am
Report this post
trw www.hockeywales.com
'gareth jones'
06-09-2005  5:41 am
Report this post
Padster
You sound like a bitter man. It is clear that you have never been involved in hockey at a competetive level, so choose to mock those that have the ability to do so.....LOSER.
Jim
06-09-2005  8:06 am
Report this post
Ben Rogers, Ollie Cooper
These guys will not trouble any international defence it shows the weakness of the Welsh side having these guys as first choice - nowhere near the English and Scottish forwards and that really is saying something.
Cape Daisy
06-09-2005  5:08 pm
Report this post
Welsh Forwards
Jim i'm afraid that you have just exibited your lack of knowledge with regards to interantional hockey. Both Rogers and Cooper played prominant parts in last years Celtic Cup win against such interantional defences as France,Ireland and Scotland. Not top international teams but worthy nonetheless.
PADSTER
06-09-2005  9:01 pm
Report this post
Gazza
You're sorta right - I may not have played competitive hockey before....but I do play for the USA national team!!!

Matty boy is an old school "friend" - (well, we would be if he'd email me occasionally!!?!) & I was taking the pith....hence "just kiddin". But since you brought it up - "mock those that have the ability" - trust me, if you'd seen M. Ruxton play you wouldn't say that!!!!
Premier Fan
06-21-2005  5:21 am
Report this post
The forwards arent the problem
You can argue about the forwards, but I think the Welsh will struggle if they dont play Smith and Jones in midfield. Smith was the lynch pin in one of the most exciting teams in the Premier division before Christmas, and Zak took over the same role after he got injured ? both are athletes with a massive heart, but chances are that Wales will stick with the inferior Firebrands boys.
Enter your own Comments
Your Name:
Subject (Optional):
Your Comments:

These comments will not be posted live until they are reviewed

HOME | FEATURES | CLUBHOUSE | CAMPS | LINKS | ABOUT US | STORE | ADVERTISE
Use of this site is subject to certain Terms & Conditions.
Get our FREE Newsletter

  Search Articles
   
PFH Clubhouse Comment of the Week
MJWC: India: IHF official levels overage charges
By: Ankit Desai

Page Generation Time: 0.16 seconds...