Wales' men's hockey team is launching a crowdfunding campaign to cover their expenses for the upcoming World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium. After securing their spot by defeating Poland 2-1 in Santiago, Chile in March, the team is eager to make their mark at the tournament scheduled for August.

The victory marked back-to-back qualifications for Wales, who made their World Cup debut in India in 2023, finishing tied for 11th place. To support their journey, the team has set a target of £40,000 to cover crucial costs such as travel, accommodation, and competition expenses.

Operating under a largely amateur framework, many players juggle full-time jobs or studies alongside their hockey commitments, often self-funding their international travel. Hockey Wales aims to leverage this World Cup appearance to inspire future generations of hockey players.

Jack Pritchard, a key player, highlighted the challenges of balancing work and training. He stated:

It's a difficult balance to get right between training and the day job. A lot of the guys come down from London, Nottingham, and Birmingham.

Pritchard acknowledged the strain on players, saying, "Being a part-time programme, we have to fund ourselves year in year out. The cost is going up so we have to do something about it."

The 32-year-old emphasized their commitment to matching the standards of other nations, stating, "For six months of the year during the summer, we try to live like the professional athletes that we need to be to play at this level."

He also noted that while funding has decreased, their performance has improved, making the upcoming World Cup an essential and costly endeavor for the team, who are proud to represent their nation on such a prestigious stage.