International Hockey

Michael Bremner vs IrelandScotland Men return to competitive international action next week when they participate in the FIH World League Round 2 in St Germain, Paris from May 6-12. 

The Scots face Belgium, Canada, France, Poland and Portugal in a challenging pool qualification format, where four of the five teams are ranked higher than Scotland in the current FIH World Rankings. 

Hockey AustraliaKookaburras coach Ric Charlesworth will hand five players their senior international debuts this week when Australia’s men’s hockey team welcome Korea to Perth Hockey Stadium.  Jeremy Edwards (TAS), Tyler Lovell (WA), Andrew Philpott (VIC), Tom Wickham (SA) and Matthew Willis (NSW) will all make the step up during the four match series. 

PUSHING ON TO RIO: Susie TownsendENGLAND, April 19 - The new Great Britain women's hockey training squad includes a blend of experience and youth

Survivors from London 2012 are veterans Kate Walsh and Helen Richardson, Ashleigh Ball, Alex Danson, Hannah Macleod, Emily Maguire, Georgie Twigg, Sally Walton and Nicola White.

The only uncapped players in the squad is Shona McCallin (MOP), but eight others with less than 10 caps have been included after the post-London churn.

Taxi: England Hockey players George Pinner (l), Simon Mantell (c) and Ashley Jackson (r) in a NOW: Pensions taxi - Getty ImagesLONDON, April 8 - England Hockey have announced a new sponsor, a new GB men's centralised programme and a new squad to set out on the road to Rio 2016.

Skipper Barry Middleton, Richard Smith, Nick Catlin, Ashley Jackson, Rob Moore, Dan Fox, Iain Lewers, Harry Martin and George Pinner (reserve keeper in London) are retained from the Olympic line-up.

BISHAM ABBEY, March 14 - England Hcokey have marked a change of direction with the appointment of a pool of assistant coaches working with both the men's and women's squad.

Jon Bleby, Craig Keegan and David Ralph have been appointed to the role of assistant coaches to work with the England men’s and women’s squads.

In a shift away from recent practice the three new appointments will see Bleby, Keegan and Ralph working across both the men’s and women’s squads for the 2013-2016 Olympic cycle. The trio will join Karen Brown to complete the assistant coach team and together they will support head coaches Jason Lee [women] and Bobby Crutchley [men].

LAUSANNE, March 11 - Following the last of the women’s Hockey World League round two tournaments which ended yesterday in Rio, the FIH today announced the line-ups for the two women’s Hockey World League semi-final tournaments to be held in Rotterdam and London in June.  

London

The second of the Hockey World League semi-finals tournaments will be held in London from June 22-30. The teams that will play in the Investec Hockey World League Semi-Final tournament are: Argentina, England, Australia, China, USA, South Africa, Spain and Italy.  The Argentina women are the highest-ranked team in the London Semi-Final, currently holding down the second spot in the FIH World Ranking. England, Australia and China join Argentina as the teams that were automatically qualified for the semi-finals.

Building on London 2012:: England captain Kate WalshLONDON, February 26 - London has been selected to host a women’s hockey World League semi-final in June.

Alongside England, Olympic silver medallists Argentina, Australia and China all gain automatic qualification to the round, given their top eight ranking.

The remaining four women’s teams will be decided following the completion of the World League Round 2 in Brazil in March.

Scotland & Great Britain Goalkeeper Abi Walker has announced her retirement from international hockeyScotland and Great Britain international goalkeeper Abi Walker has announced her retirement from international hockey with immediate effect. 

Commenting on her decision to retire, Walker said, “Following the Olympics in London, I have returned to work and my career is now my number one priority. The Commonwealth Games in Glasgow represents a huge opportunity for our young and exciting team and the team will enter full-time training to prepare for it. I have come to the decision that I will not be able to match that commitment.