Post World War 2 Following World War 2 hockey Internationals recommenced on the 22nd of March 1947 against Ireland at Dublin, with Wales’s men losing 4-1. Shortly after the men played their first game against an overseas opponent. The game took place at Clarence Park Weston-Super-Mare against a Holland RD X1; Wales Lost 2-8. Europe was beginning to open for men’s hockey and in October 1950 the first overseas tour to Barcelona took place. Wales played France, Spain B and Belgium – all games were lost. South Africa visited on the 6th of April 1957. Wales drew their first ever game against overseas opposition – the game ending goalless 0-0 and against Denmark Copenhagen 1957 however, a more exciting 4-4 draw against Denmark followed that year. During the 1950’s and 1960’s Holland were regular opponents, but their first win against European opposition came in 1969, again against Denmark. The 9th of August 1970 was a monumental date in Welsh hockey history. Wales finally beat England by 1-0 at Colston’s School, Bristol; Peter Marsh scoring an early goal. Players from the match have commented that England tried to get the game nullified as an agreed international due to the substitute rule, but it eventually was sanctioned! European competition was also developing and in 1970 Wales took part in their first European Championships in Brussels: They had 1 win against the USSR as well as 2 draws and 2 losses. Followed by Madrid in 1974 where they had 2 wins, a draw and two losses. Hanover followed Brussels and in 1981 Wales reached the Intercontinental Cup Finals in Kuala Lumpur – competing well with 4 wins, 1 draw and 2 losses. They visited USA in 1972 followed by European tournaments in Amsterdam, Moscow, Dublin, Padua and the Ukraine between 1983 and 2010. In 1996 Wales started their World Cup journey in Cagliari with a respectable: won 3, drew 1 and lost 4, a journey that culminated 26 years later when they qualified for the FIH World Cup Qualifier. In 1998 Wales qualified for their first Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur. Further Commonwealth Games appearances followed: Manchester 2002; Glasgow 2014; the Gold Coast in 2018 and recently Birmingham 2022 where Wales finished 6th. In 2015 the men won Euro Hockey 111 in Lisbon and then had 5 wins out of 5 in the 2016 World League; perhaps the real indication to the significant improvement that was taking place. This culminated in the 2021 World Cup Qualification tournament in Cardiff when, by beating Italy, Ireland and France Wales qualified for their first World Cup Finals. In January 2023 Wales travelled to India, playing at the Bhubaneswar and Rourkela stadiums to finish a creditable 11th place. Wales women resumed post World War 2 hockey as early as 1946 with an unofficial game against Ireland in Dublin. From 1947 the regular Home International fixtures started again. The war had a devastating effect on women’s hockey with the number of clubs and players significantly reduced. This clearly impacted with Wales losing all their 1947 and 48 games against the Home Nations, it was not until May 1948 that they posted their first post war win against Austria in Holland. Defeats continued, some heavy over the next few seasons, Wales winning the odd game against European opposition. It wasn’t until 1957 that the cycle was broken with a draw against Scotland at Margam and a 3-2-win v Ireland at Colwyn Bay. In 1959 Wales had a god IFWHA tournament in Holland beating South Africa, France, New Zealand, and Belgium, only losing to the Netherlands. Results in the early 1960s showed Wales improving and getting much better against England and Ireland without outright wins. 1962 saw wins against Ireland and Scotland and then on the 9th of March 1963 Wales finally beat England, by 1-0 in front of 60,000 plus spectators at Wembley Stadium – 65 years of hurt finally banished! In 1964 Wales had their best Home international Championship to date, remaining unbeaten with a draw v England and wins against Scotland and Ireland. Further positive improvement could be seen and in the 1967 World Conference in Leverkusen, Wales beat Switzerland, USA and Austria; had two draws v New Zealand and Argentina and a sole defeat to West Germany. A tour to South Africa followed in 1970 and then the 1971 World championships in Auckland, Wales again only losing to West Germany. On the way home they toured Canada and then the West Indies in 1973. A successful 1975 World Championship in Scotland followed, playing 8 games and losing 2-0 to England in the final! Gradually the Home International tournament became more obsolete and Four Nations, Intercontinental Cup and European Championships came to the fore. In 1998 Wales played in their first Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur, Beating Nambia 3-0 ad Drawing with Canada 0-0 and losing three games. In the early 2000s the Celtic Cup tournament started and was played regularly throughout the decade. By 2009 Wales were playing in Euro Hockey 11 with some success. Further Commonwealth Games Appearances occurred: Delhi in 2010, Glasgow 2014, the Gold Coast in 2018 and a best ever finish of 8th in Birmingham 2022. During the ‘modern period’ Wales have risen the World Ranking and in December 2022 were ranked 24th.