Knighton hockey player Phoebe Richards has been selected for her second successive Commonwealth Games.

The forward, who now plays for Buckingham, was named in the Welsh squad when it was confirmed by Hockey Wales today.

Also named in the squad is former Brecon Hockey Club player Delyth Thomas. She currently plays for Birmingham University. Richards, who first played for her hometown club, lists scoring in her first Commonwealth Games, in Glasgow 2014, as her career highlight so far.

They are two of 18 women selected to travel to Australia for April’s Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Leah Wilkinson will captain the squad.

The men’s squad was also announced today and the Gold Coast will be the first time both Wales’ men’s and women’s teams have compete side by side since in a games outside of the UK since 1998.

The Wales women’s side will be aiming to build on their World League and European exploits in 2017 and go up against India, South Africa, Malaysia and England in Pool A.

New captain Wilkinson will be leading the squad into a major games for the first time. The Holcombe player stepped up as captain at the turn of the year after Abi Welsford stepped down from international hockey.

Head Coach Kevin Johnson said: "This particular selection process has been the most competitive we have experienced in recent times and therefore it is an indication of the squad depth we have been trying to develop over time.

"Over the last couple of months, the players have demonstrated clear improvements physically, technically and tactically and we feel we are well placed to meet the challenge of facing higher ranked opponents that the Commonwealth Games will throw at us with a very positive mindset.

"We are continually motivated by challenge and excited about what the future holds for us as a group and this tournament is another stepping stone on this process and we look forward to seeing what we can achieve."

Women’s Squad

Leah Wilkinson © (Holcombe)

Sian French – VC (Bowdon Hightown)

Rose Thomas – GK (Holcombe)

Ella Jackson – GK (Buckingham)

Julie Whiting (Bowdon Hightown)

Natasha Marke-Jones (Clifton Robinsons)

Sophie Clayton (Clifton Robinsons)

Sarah Jones (Holcombe)

Lisa Daley (Clifton Robinsons)

Phoebe Richards (Buckingham)

Tina Evans (unattached)

Dannielle Jordan (Buckingham)

Eloise Laity (Buckingham)

Beth Bingham (Holcombe)

Izzie Howell (Neston)

Delyth Thomas (University of Birmingham)

Xenna Hughes (East Grinstead)

Jo Westwood (Holcombe)

Men’s Squad

Lewis Prosser © (Surbiton)

Luke Hawker © – (Cardiff & Met)

David Kettle – GK (Teddington)

James Fortnam – GK (Cardiff & Met)

Jacob Draper – Cardiff & Met)

Dale Hutchinson – (Reading)

Rhys Gowman – (Cardiff & Met)

Dan Kyriakides – (Reading)

James Kyriakides – (Southgate)

Alf Dinnie – (Cardiff & Met)

Ben Francis – (Reading)

Gareth Furlong – (Surbiton)

Hywel Jones – (University of Birmingham)

Rupert Shipperley (Hampstead & Westminster)

Jonny Gooch – (Hampstead & Westminster)

Steve Kelly – (Hampstead & Westminster)

Owain Dolan Gray – (Reading)

James Carson – (Reading)