Canterbury Chris Pryce skippers England's under-21s in the EuroHockey Junior Nations Championships, which start in San Sebastian, Spain, on Sunday.

The former Kent College pupil heads up a 16-strong squad who have been drawn in a pool with reigning champions and six-time winners Holland, hosts Spain – champions on two occasions – and Austria.

The other group comprises Germnany - the only other team to have won the crown - Belgium, Poland and Scotland.

England wound-up their preparations for the tournament last week by losing 2-1 to Belgium in a three-Test series played at Canterbury’s Polo Farm headquarters.

Pryce was one of Engand’s scorers in Wednesday’s 4-2 defeat and Belgium also won Thursday’s game (3-2) before England signed off on a high with Saturday’s 4-1 win.

England have twice been European silver medallists, at Santander, Spain in 1988, and in Poznan, Poland, 10 years later. Two years ago, Pryce was a member of the side which finished fifth in Prague.

Pryce’s Canterbury clubmate Hayley Brown - who turned 21 on Saturday - is in the England’s women’s squad for the tournament.

They have been drawn with Italy, Belarus and Lithuania while Germany, Spain, Holland and Belgium contest the other pool.

England have been runners-up four times, the last time being in 2006 when they lost 1-0 to Germany in the final at Catania, Spain.