Players taken forward Initial Assessment into England Age Group Squads for 2026–27

Following the fantastic Talent Academy Cup held in Nottingham this July, England Hockey would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all the players, supporters, coaches, volunteers, umpires, officials, hosts and everyone involved.  Over 850 young players took part, and we hope each of them enjoyed the experience, embraced the atmosphere, and created lasting memories with their squads. 

After a rigorous selection process by England Age Group coaches and scouts which included observing all matches, conducting a dedicated goalkeeper selection process, and holding detailed discussions with Talent Academy coaches.  The England Hockey Age Group management teams have selected players to progress from the Talent Academy Cup to the initial assessment phase for the England U18 and U16 squads in September 2026. 

These players will be joined by others selected through the England Age Group Open Assessments, held in May and July, following nominations from club, school, and county coaches. 

The selection process has been highly competitive, and the coaches have invested significant time and consideration into every decision. 

Players who have not been selected at this stage or who are not taken forward following the initial assessment will continue their development within their club, school, or Talent Academy environments.  Talent Academy coaches will remain in regular contact with England Age Group staff and will continue to highlight players who show notable progression.  Open nominations will also remain a valid route for players in other environments to be considered in future. 

We encourage all players not selected at this time to remember that development is not linear.  You are still very young, and growth physically, mentally, and technically continues over time.  Many of our most successful senior internationals experienced early setbacks in their journey and used those moments to fuel their future success. 

The following players have been selected to progress to the England Age Group Initial Assessment for 2026–27: 

England Age Group U16 Boys 

England Age Group U16 Girls 

England Age Group U18 Boys 

England Age Group U18 Girls