Three of Ben Rhydding's national Masters Cup winning side have been selected to play for the England Over 50s Masters hockey squad in the Masters World Cup in Rotterdam next week.

Skipper, Andy Locke, who led the side to the club’s first-ever national title at any level, is joined in the England squad by local GP, Mark French, who will captain the national team, and Rob Ward, whose home club is Sheffield but was eligible in EHA rules.

French said: “It is an honour to be able to represent our club and country in the twilight of our hockey careers and it is a reflection on the quality of Rhydding's squad that three of us have got selected.

“We are looking forward to the challenge and the experience although seven games in eight days at that level presents us with a formidable challenge and we just hope our ageing bodies will cope.”

French and Locke were in the England squad which won the Masters World Cup two years ago but the competition will be much tougher this year with the likes of Holland, Germany and Australia providing far stiffer opposition than in the past.