Team England have announced a 16 strong women’s hockey squad who will compete For Team and Country at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast in Australia.
The squad contains 8 players including captain Alex Danson who memorably claimed Olympic Gold for Great Britain in Rio de Janeiro in 2016. Team England claimed a silver medal at the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, losing an agonising penalty shootout to Australia in the Final.
Team England have been drawn in Pool A for the 2018 Commonwealth Games against India, South Africa, Malaysia and Wales. The team will begin their campaign on 5 April against South Africa aiming for a place in the medal matches on 14 April.
England Team captain and Team England Board Member Alex Danson said: “I’m incredibly proud to be leading this talented squad out to the Gold Coast to compete at the Commonwealth Games. We continue to grow and improve as a team and I’m very excited to get out there and show everyone once again exactly what we can do. It’ll be a huge honour to compete at what will be my fourth Commonwealth Games.”
Team England Chef de Mission Sarah Winckless said: “I’d like to offer my congratulations to all the players and staff selected for Team England. Our women’s hockey team have a phenomenal record of winning medals at the Commonwealth Games and I am sure they will once again do team and country proud on the Gold Coast. Women’s hockey has taken off since the 2016 Olympics and I hope that Team England can once again play our part in securing success for the nation.”
Two further athletes will be added to the squad at a later date following fitness tests. A further announcement on these players will be made in due course.
| Name |
Date of Birth |
Place of Birth |
Club |
Commonwealth Games Experience |
|
Giselle Ansley |
31/03/1992 |
Plymouth |
Surbiton Hockey Club |
Glasgow 2014 – Silver |
|
Grace Balsdon |
13/04/1993 |
Canterbury |
Canterbury |
N/A |
|
Sophie Bray |
12/05/1990 |
Grasse, France |
SV Kampong, Netherlands |
Glasgow 2014 – Silver |
|
Alex Danson |
21/05/1985 |
Southampton |
Clifton |
Melbourne 2006 – Bronze Dehli 2010 – Bronze Glasgow 2014 – Silver |
|
Sarah Haycroft |
12/04/1991 |
Wandsworth |
Surbiton Hockey Club |
Glasgow 2014 – Silver |
|
Maddie Hinch |
08/10/1988 |
Southampton |
SCHC, Netherlands |
Glasgow 2014 – Silver |
|
Kathryn Lane |
27/02/1995 |
Derby |
Leicester Hockey Club |
N/A |
|
Hannah Martin |
30/12/1994 |
Ipswich |
Surbiton Hockey Club |
N/A |
|
Lily Owsley |
10/12/1994 |
Bristol |
Birmingham |
Glasgow 2014 Silver |
|
Hollie Pearne-Webb |
19/09/1990 |
Derby |
Surbiton Hockey Club |
Glasgow 2014 – Silver |
|
Ellie Rayer |
22/11/1996 |
Slough |
Loughborough students |
N/A |
|
Amy Tennant |
28/08/1994 |
Davyhulme |
East Grinstead |
N/A |
|
Anna Toman |
29/04/1993 |
Derby |
University of Birmingham |
N/A |
|
Susannah Townsend |
28/07/1989 |
London |
Canterbury |
Glasgow 2014 – Silver |
|
Laura Unsworth |
08/03/1988 |
Sutton Colfield |
East Grinstead |
Dehli 2010 – Bronze Glasgow 2014 – Silver |
|
Ellie Watton |
10/06/1989 |
Chesterfield |
Holcombe |
Glasgow 2014 – Silver |
As part of its plans to send the best prepared team to the Gold Coast, Commonwealth Games England will hold a 10-day preparation camp in Brisbane, create a dedicated performance centre inside the Commonwealth Games Village, and offer a full programme of support services.
Team England’s preparation camp for the Gold Coast will include a number of specially selected high-performance sports and support facilities that will enable athletes to continue training and complete their final preparations prior to entering the Commonwealth Games Village.
The dedicated performance centre will be at the heart of Team England’s headquarters inside the Commonwealth Games Village. It will provide an enhanced environment in the Village for athletes, coaches and support staff, where the team will have access to dedicated doctors, physios and a full range of clinical, rehabilitation, preparation services, kit, equipment, stretching and R&R areas.