Three players from Holcombe Hockey Club will be representing England at this summer’s Commonwealth Games.

Nick Bandurak, Phil Roper and Ollie Payne have all been included in the men’s hockey squad. Fellow Holcombe players Hayden Phillips (New Zealand) and Rob Field (Scotland) will also be part of Birmingham 2022.

The hockey action takes place at the University of Birmingham.

Holcombe’s summer recruit Roper is playing in his third successive Commonwealth Games.

He was part of the England team that won bronze at the 2018 Games in Australia, one of seven members of that squad are included again this time around. He was also in the bronze-winning 2014 side at the Glasgow Games.

The 30-year-old recently picked up his 100th cap for England and moved to Holcombe last month after a season with Dutch side Oranje-Rood.

Forward player Bandurak is representing England for the first time at a major tournament, making his international debut in the FIH Hockey Pro League in February this year.

He’s scored 10 goals in his 14 England appearances.

Goalkeeper Payne was part of the England squad for the 2021 EuroHockey Championships, his first experience of a senior tournament. He’s collected 17 England caps to date, along with another 12 for GB, and will be part of the ‘leadership group’ for the Commonwealth Games.

Head Coach Paul Revington said: “This England team is privileged to represent their country at another home Commonwealth Games and goes out there with the aim of finishing on the podium again.

“The team has a nice blend of youth and experience and will be determined to put in a series of quality performances that makes the country and themselves proud.”

England start their tournament with a game against Ghana on Friday, July 29. They play Wales on the Sunday (July 31) and just over 24 hours later face India. They conclude their group stage matches three days later against Canada.

England named their women’s squad last month. The ladies are facing three major tournaments in the space of nine weeks and are currently competing at the World Cup. No current Holcombe players are in the squad but Laura Unsworth (East Grinstead) and Maddie Hinch (HC Tilburg) have previously played for the Rochester-based club.