Hoci Cymru Announce Women’s Squad for Junior World Cup

Hoci Cymru is proud to announce the 20-player women’s squad selected to travel to Chile for the 2025 FIH Junior World Cup later this year.

The Junior World Cup is held every four years and will showcase the world’s brightest young hockey talent, from 16 nations. Eligible players must be under the age of 21, making the event a vital stepping stone for the next generation of international stars.

Wales secured their place at the tournament following a historic victory at the EuroHockey U21 II-A Championships in July 2024.

Drawn in an exciting but formidable group, Wales will face Argentina, Belgium and Zimbabwe in the opening group phase of the competition.

The squad features several standout athletes, including Amy Cradden, Betsan Thomas and Caitlin Witham, all of whom bring invaluable experience from their time in the Great Britain development setup and having recently been part of the senior national team that were victorious at the EuroHockey Championships in Poland this August.

Also amongst the squad is Makenzy Beard, recently honoured with the Child of Wales Young Leader Award 2025, recognising her exceptional contribution both on and off the pitch.

Head coach Walid Abdo commented: “I'm delighted to be leading a such a strong group of young capable women. It’s an exciting time for this team. The tournament will be an amazing experience for the  players and staff, and I'm quietly confident we can surprise a few people.”

The final 20-player squad will continue preparations before departing for Chile in late November.