Proud grandparents, Geoff and Brenda Howell, who live in Ross-on-Wye, are thrilled that their granddaughter’s commitment to hockey has paid off and she has been selected for the Wales Senior Women’s Team.

Izzie Howell, who is just 18, lives in Flintshire in North Wales but has come up through the ranks of junior player.

Izzie entered the Senior Age group straight from the National Age group programme in September 2017.

Grandfather, Geoff, told the Ross Gazette: “Her father, and my other two sons played rugby for Ross while they lived at home, so sport has been very important to the whole family.

“It has been a huge commitment for Izzie to progress. She attends regular training in Cardiff and has also attended training camps in Barcelona, as well as studying for her A-levels.”

Izzie will be flying out to the Gold Coast, Australia, with the rest of squad in time for the games which start on March 23rd.

With Izzie set to make her first appearance for Wales, the head coach Kevin Johnson said: “She has transitioned into life as a senior seamlessly with an assured nature to her play and has therefore fully deserved selection after a string of consistent performances across the training block.

“She will earn her first senior cap in the first game of the Commonwealth Games against India.”