HOCKEY: Souyave rethinks England policy

HELEN RICHARDSON, the 17-year-old schoolgirl, was the surprise choice by the England coach, Maggie Souyave, when she announced her squad for the European Cup in Cologne next month and the Four Nations World Invitational at Milton Keynes 10 days before that.

Richardson, of Fyffes Leicester, who won her one and only cap against Japan last Wednesday, is one of four changes to the England team which won a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games. Also new to the squad, which has been increased to 18, are 19-year-old Kate Walsh, Anna Bennett, Lorraine Catchpole, Sue Chandler and Leisa King. But Lucy Newcombe, Kerry Moore and Jennie Bimson are dropped as Souyave appears to have re-thought her youth policy. Slough's captain, Chandler, is recalled at the age of 32 and five of the squad are over 30.

ENGLAND SQUAD (for World Invitational, Milton Keynes 4-8 August; European Cup, Cologne 18-29 August): K Brown (capt), J Smith, A Bennett, M Nicholson, S Chandler, F Greenham (all Slough), J Sixsmith, H Rose (Sutton Coldfield), K Bowden, H Richardson (Fyffes Leicester), L Catchpole, L King (Ipswich), M Clewlow, J Empson (Canterbury), T Cullen, C Reid, K Walsh (Hightown), L Wright (Olton).