On target for women and Wales at World Cup

Professor lines up for Wales at the Masters Women’s Hockey World Cup, South Africa

Women’s sport may be on the rise, but parity between sport played by women and men is far from a reality, from grass roots to higher profile international tournaments.

With a UK parents survey showing 26% of daughters report being told sport ‘wasn’t for girls’, and 57% feeling excluded from sport/physical activity (Women In Sport UK), masters hockey is helping to show where women – of all ages – do belong.

In Wales today, there are 7 women’s and 10 men’s masters hockey squads – that’s around 340 players in teams, with 2,000 registered masters players in England in age groups.

Affiliated with Hockey Wales, masters hockey is the fastest growing sector within hockey in Wales, with players acting as important role models for younger players.

Prolific academic Professor Dawn Knight leads major applied linguistics projects with real-world impact, and regularly plays for Cardiff & Met women’s performance squad.

Ahead of her latest cap as striker for Wales over 40s women, Professor Knight said: ‘I'm thrilled and honoured to be representing Wales in the upcoming Masters Hockey World Cup. This competition is about more than just hockey – it's about sharing experiences, creating and maintaining communities, support networks and friendships, as well as inspiring women of all ages to get involved in sport – whether it’s something they’ve done before, or something completely new.’

There will be 68 men's teams (4 Welsh) and 32 women's teams (2 Welsh) participating in the Masters World Cup in South Africa. In any masters hockey cycle, the World Cup is the pinnacle event. Ahead of the tournament this year, Professor Knight and her Wales over 40s teammates delivered a promising Four Nations result against the current World Cup holders England, drawing 1-1.

Tenacious and completely self-funded, the Wales over 40s women’s team is playing in Cape Town from 12^th to 21^st October alongside teams from Argentina, Australia, Chile, England, Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, Singapore, South Africa, Uruguay and USA.

All 2024 Masters Women’s Hockey World Cup matches are available to watch in real time via live stream.