- First matches on home soil since both teams qualified for Tokyo Olympics in November 2019
- Six players return for women having missed last games against The Netherlands and Belgium, including captain Hollie Pearne-Webb
- Henry Weir and David Ames among seven players also back in the men’s squad
- No media access at matches
- After more than 550 days of waiting, Great Britain have named their squads to take on Germany in their first capped home matches since the FIH Olympic Qualifiers in November 2019.
Both teams will be in FIH Hockey Pro League action on 12-13 May, with the men due to play at 17:30 each day before the women face Die Danas at 20:00. All the games are behind closed doors but will be shown live on BT Sport.
Olympic gold medallist Giselle Ansley is set to play her first international game since the last time the teams stepped out onto the pitch at Lee Valley Hockey And Tennis Centre, having overcome an Achilles injury. Henry Weir could also play his first matches since then too after an ankle injury sidelined him throughout 2020.
There are several changes to the squads that last played in the FIH Hockey Pro League against The Netherlands and Belgium in October and November 2020. Captain Hollie Pearne-Webb returns for the women alongside Ansley, Maddie Hinch, Shona McCallin, Charlotte Watson and Leah Wilkinson. However Emily Defroand, Tess Howard and Hannah Martin are unavailable due to injury.
David Ames is back for the men’s team and could win his 50th GB cap if he plays in both fixtures. Harry Gibson, Liam Sanford, Ian Sloan and Sam Ward are also included, as are Chris Griffiths and Harry Martin who missed the recent tour of Malaysia due to injury. Rhys Smith hasn’t recovered from his injury in time to be considered for this double-header.
As well as the fact that international hockey is finally returning to Great Britain, there could also be a number of individual milestones to celebrate across the two evenings. Hinch, Sarah Robertson and Phil Roper could all play their 150th international matches and Ellie Rayer is in line to make her 50th appearance for England and Great Britain combined.
In addition, Ollie Payne, Fiona Crackles and Rupert Shipperley could all make their first international appearances for Great Britain on home soil.
Unfortunately, due to the unprecedented times we still find ourselves in, there will be no access for external media.
GB fixtures v Germany
Wednesday 12 May: GB v Germany (M) – 17:30 (BT Sport 2)
Wednesday 12 May: GB v Germany (W) – 20:00 (BT Sport 2)
Thursday 13 May: GB v Germany (M) – 17:30 (BT Sport 1)
Thursday 13 May: GB v Germany (W) – 20:00 (BT Sport 1)
Women’s squad
1) Maddie Hinch (GK) – England
4) Laura Unsworth – England
5) Sarah Evans – England
6) Anna Toman – England
8) Sarah Jones – Wales
9) Susannah Townsend – England
10) Sarah Robertson – Scotland
12) Charlotte Watson – Scotland
13) Ellie Rayer – England
17) Leah Wilkinson – Wales
18) Giselle Ansley – England
20) Hollie Pearne-Webb (C) – England
24) Shona McCallin – England
25) Sabbie Heesh – England
26) Lily Owsley – England
27) Jo Hunter – England
31) Grace Balsdon – England
32) Amy Costello – Scotland
33) Izzy Petter – England
38) Fiona Crackles – England
Men’s squad
1) George Pinner (GK) – England
5) David Ames – England
6) Henry Weir – England
7) Alan Forsyth – Scotland
8) Rupert Shipperley – Wales
9) Harry Martin – England
10) Chris Griffiths – England
11) Ian Sloan – England
13) Sam Ward – England
15) Phil Roper – England
16) Adam Dixon (C) – England
18) Brendan Creed – England
19) David Goodfield – England
20) Ollie Payne (GK) – England
21) Liam Ansell – England
23) Harry Gibson (GK) – England
25) Jack Waller – England
26) James Gall – England
27) Liam Sanford – England
29) Tom Sorsby – England
32) Zach Wallace – England
33) Jacob Draper – Wales
Courtesy of England Hockey
