Wales To Play In European Top Flight For First Time In 24 Years

Wales will play successful nan European apical formation for nan first clip successful 24 years successful 2027 aft beating Austria 2-1 successful melodramatic manner successful their Women's EuroHockey Championship II semi-final successful Poland.

It will people Wales' return to nan European A Division for nan first clip since 2003 having already secured a spot successful nan World Cup qualifiers for conscionable nan 2nd clip successful their history, by progressing from nan group shape successful Gniezno.

Wales' men will besides play successful nan World Cup qualifiers and Europe's 2027 apical formation aft their 5-0 triumph complete Italy successful nan EuroHockey Championship II successful Portugal.

Against Austria, Wales women skipper Beth Bingham struck first, successful nan 21st minute, by tapping successful from a punishment area rebound.

Kristine Vukovich levelled for Austria pinch 10 minutes near done a punishment corner, but Amy Cradden stepped up to people nan victor precocious on, besides from a punishment corner, to spark Wales' celebrations.

Wales women's only erstwhile qualification for nan World Cup qualifiers came successful 2021, wherever they mislaid to Ireland successful nan last round.

Wales will look nan victor of Friday's 2nd semi-final, Italy v Switzerland, connected Saturday successful nan tourney final.

In Lousada, Ben Francis, Gareth Griffiths, Nic Morgan, Jack Pritchard and Fred Newbold deed nan target arsenic Wales sealed their return to nan A Division they past played successful in 2023.

In 2021, Wales men won that year's World Cup qualifiers successful Cardiff. But their minds will beryllium connected Saturday's tier-two last erstwhile they will look nan winners of Ireland v Scotland's Friday semi-final.