Ex-GB skipper Ames joins Wales' coaching team

Recently retired Great Britain and England captain David Ames has joined Wales' coaching staff as they prepare for their FIH Hockey Nations Cup debut in Malaysia this month.Hoci Cymru say 35-year-old Ames is "helping out with additional coaching support over the summer period".Head coach Danny Newcombe takes a 21-player squad to Kuala Lumpur for the tournament from 15-21 June, including co-captain Rupert Shipperly, Gareth Furlong and Jacob Draper who all played alongside skipper Ames at the 2024 Paris Olympics."I've thoroughly enjoyed my first few weeks in the Wales camp, everyone has been really accommodating and it's been smooth sailing so far," said South Africa-born Ames."It's obviously a bit more stressful on this side, having not just to play but have to worry about everything that goes into it from a detail point of view. But I'm looking forward to the challenge and an exciting summer with these lads."
Shipperly will skipper Wales in tandem with Ben Francis as they face three Pool A matches against South Africa, Korea and France, before the finals and play-off rounds.Furlong is two appearances away from reaching 150 Wales caps and is one short of 100 goals for his country.Reading midfielder Sam Welsh is in line for a senior international debut, while goalkeeper Rhys Payne returns to the squad for the first time since sustaining a knee injury at the men's World Cup in January 2023.This year's Nations Cup tournament will provide the winning team with the opportunity to be promoted to the FIH Hockey Pro League, joining last year's champions New Zealand along with Japan, Malaysia and Pakistan in Pool B."I am really excited to be heading back to Malaysia, always a great place to play hockey," said Shipperley."It's Wales' first time competing in the Nations Cup, alongside some very competitive teams. "We have a great blend of experience and youth amongst the squad and I am looking forward to seeing what we can achieve as a group."
Wales squad
John Bennett, Rhys Bradshaw, Alf Dinnie, Jacob Draper, Ben Francis (co-capt), Gareth Furlong, Gareth Griffiths, Dale Hutchinson, Hywel Jones, Daniel Kyriakides, Jolyon Morgan, Nic Morgan, Fred Newbold, Will Penrose, Rhys Payne, Jack Pritchard, Will Penrose, Toby Reynolds-Cotterill, Rupert Shipperley (co-capt), Owen Sutton, Sam Welsh.
Wales' Nations League schedule
Sunday, 15 June: Wales vs South Africa (09:00 BST)Monday, 16 June: Wales vs Korea (07:00 BST)Wednesday, 18 June: France vs Wales (09:00 BST)Friday, 20 June: Semi-finals/5th–8th place playoffs Saturday, 21 June: Finals/5th–8th place playoffs

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