Strong Cardiff Met connections in Wales squad for Hockey World Cup
- Damian Burgess
- Aug 5
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 5
Cardiff Metropolitan University and Cardiff & Met Hockey Club will have a strong presence at the 2026 FIH Hockey Men's World Cup, with ten members of Wales' 20-player squad holding a direct link to the University or club, and only four squad members never having represented Cardiff & Met HC at any point in their playing career.
Nine of the ten currently turn out for Cardiff & Met Hockey Club: goalkeeper Rhys Payne, defenders Daniel Kyriakides, James Tyson and Alf Dinnie, midfielders Rhodri Furlong, Dale Hutchinson and Liam Barker, and forwards Jack Pritchard, and Jonny Fleck.
The tenth, Nic Morgan, is a current Cardiff Met master's student, studying Project Management. Nic represented Cardiff Met Cardiff & Met HC when he earned his first senior Wales cap in 2024.
Within the group, Alf Dinnie also works for the University as a Lecturer and Program Director for Performance Analysis in the Cardiff School of Sport and Health Sciences, and serves as Cardiff Met's BUCS Hockey Lead and Head Coach of the women's first team. Dale Hutchinson, Jonny Fleck, Jack Pritchard, Rhys Payne and James Tyson are all Cardiff Met alumni.
Leadership from within the University
The Cardiff Met connection extends well beyond the playing squad and into the heart of the coaching and support team.
Wales head coach Danny Newcombe is himself a Cardiff Met alumnus, having represented the University as a student before going on to coach and serve as Director of hockey during its UWIC era. His journey from player to national coach reflects the lasting influence of Cardiff Met hockey on the Welsh programme, and this World Cup will be his second in charge, following Wales' tournament debut in India in 2023.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Newcombe said:
"Cardiff Met has had a huge influence on this squad, and it's something everyone connected to the University should be incredibly proud of. To have so many current and former students, graduates, players and staff representing Wales at a Hockey World Cup, both on the pitch and within the coaching team, speaks volumes about the quality of people and the culture that exists.
"For me, it's particularly special. I'm proud to be a former Cardiff Met student and member of staff, and so much of my own journey as a coach was shaped by the opportunities, people and experiences I had at the University. To now return to a World Cup leading Wales, alongside so many others with Cardiff Met connections, is something that carries real significance.
"I know everyone involved will wear both the Welsh shirt and their Cardiff Met connection with enormous pride."
Assistant Coach Luke Hawker, Senior Lecturer in Sport Coaching, Director of Hockey and Men's Performance Head Coach at Cardiff Met, has also played a key role in developing the squad. Hawker completed both his undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the University before joining its staff in 2016. As Wales captain, he won more than 100 international caps and represented his country at two Commonwealth Games, three European Championships and the 2023 World Cup, before retiring from international hockey in 2024.
Hawker said:
"The strength of player and staff representation in the World Cup squad reflects the outstanding work of those who have shaped, and continue to enhance, the hockey programme at Cardiff. At a performance level, our vision is to create Olympians, both on the pitch and within the workforce, by providing an elite environment in which players and staff can develop the skills and attributes to operate at the highest level in their personal, professional and sporting lives. We are immensely proud of everyone travelling to the World Cup and know they are well prepared to represent Cardiff and Wales with pride, honour and performances befitting the world stage."
The Cardiff Met Sport team travelling with the squad also includes Physio Debbie Mason.
The road to the World Cup
This will be Wales' second consecutive World Cup appearance. The squad secured qualification in Chile in March, recovering from a slow start to beat Scotland 5-0 before edging past Poland 2-1 in the decisive match.
Wales have been drawn in Pool D alongside India, Pakistan and England, a tough test against some of the world's leading hockey nations. The tournament runs in Amsterdam and Wavre from 15 to 30 August 2026, with Wales aiming to improve on their 11th-place finish from their 2023 debut.
The scale of Cardiff Met and Cardiff & Met representation is a proud reflection of the University's performance hockey environment and its ongoing contribution to Welsh hockey at both player and coaching, and support staff level.
Everyone at Cardiff Met Sport wishes Cardiff Met Alumni, current staff, players past and present, and the entire Wales squad the very best as they prepare to represent their country on hockey's biggest stage.
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