Revington named Great Britain men's hockey coach

Hockey 19 Apr 22

Paul Revington has been named as the head coach of the England and Great Britain’s men’s teams, replacing the long-serving Danny Kerry.

Revington returns to England and Great Britain Hockey having previously been the head coach of the Great Britain women’s elite development programme.

The South African then became the assistant coach for the England and Great Britain’s senior women’s squads before taking up the role of technical director for Malaysia hockey.

“I feel privileged to be afforded the opportunity to lead the Great Britain and England men’s teams in their next chapter of international hockey,” the former FIH World Coach of the Year said.

“I started my involvement in hockey at the time when England and Great Britain won World Cup and Olympic medals respectively in ‘86 and ‘88, then I was able to witness first-hand the men’s resurgence from 2006.

“And I enjoyed a wonderful three years coaching in the women’s programme at Bisham Abbey during the successful Tokyo cycle - so I’ve developed a good understanding and feel for how Great Britain and England Hockey lives and breathes.

“Our coaching and management team enters an environment filled with opportunities. A national club league showing exciting growth potential, a healthy pool of athletes thanks to a successful Great Britain EDP programme; a squad containing a competitive mix of youth and experience and a national team having taken positive strides forward in the Tokyo cycle.

“Added to this is an exciting time for all three Home Nations as they look to excel over the coming months and compete at international events including the Commonwealth Games and World Cup.”

Team GB’s men’s hockey side finished fifth at Tokyo 2020 recording two group game victories before losing 3-1 to India in the quarter-finals.

Revington will potentially come up against his home country at the 2022 Commonwealth Games if both England and South Africa progress from their respective pools.

England will be hoping to upgrade their bronze medal from the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018 and end Australia’s grip on the gold which they have held since hockey was first included in 1998.

Commenting on the appointment, performance director Ed Barney said: “We are delighted that Paul will be returning to the UK to lead the England and Great Britain men’s international teams.

“He has a number of exceptional skills, qualities and super-strengths which align incredibly closely with the role brief and the criteria that we set out for this appointment.

“The men’s squad and breadth and depth of talent is exceptional and we know the team are well placed to take their next step on the world-level podium.”

Former England rugby head coach Stuart Lancaster was a member of the appointment panel alongside representatives from England and Great Britain Hockey, Catriona Semple and Kate Baker of UK Sport and former international hockey players.

Barney added: “The panel have every confidence in Paul and know that he will maximise all the skills and strengths of the squad (both individually and collectively) and of the full staff team in the coming months and years.”

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