Millfield Hockey Siblings Receive International Call Up

Brother and sister duo have been selected for the prestigious England Hockey age group programme.

Lower Sixth student Bella Hinde-Smith has been selected for the England U18 squad, while her younger brother Josh, in Year 10, has been selected for the England U16 squad.

Bella, who first picked up a hockey stick in Year 6, believes her selection reflects the hard work and dedication she has shown in recent months: “Being selected for England was a real reflection of the hard work I put in over the summer, as well as my continued efforts during my time with the England U16 squad. It was a proud moment for me and my family.” 

Josh began playing hockey in Year 7 and described receiving his first England cap as a special milestone: “The England selection meant a lot to me, as playing for my country is something I have always wanted to do.”

Both siblings recently played in a test series against Ireland. Bella was delighted with the outcome: “The matches against Ireland went really well, with the squad coming away with three wins out of three. Personally, I felt I played some of the best hockey I’ve played for England so far, which reflects the positive start I’ve had at Millfield this year.”

Josh also enjoyed success during the matches, “The Ireland series went really well; we won the series, which is a great start to the season for the team. Hopefully we can build on these results in the fixtures coming up.”

Both Bella and Josh have been selected to represent England in the Hockey Six Nations, taking place during April this year.

Bella credits Millfield’s hockey programme for playing a key role in her development. “Millfield has provided a brilliant environment where I feel supported to make mistakes and improve. Playing in the top league in the country and travelling to Clifton has really stretched and developed my game. The coaching staff are very committed to managing my training load alongside strength and conditioning, and there’s strong communication between my England coaches, club coaches, and school staff. That full-circle support network has really helped me have a well-rounded hockey experience, balancing enjoyment with challenge.”

Looking ahead, Bella is determined to continue progressing. “I hope to keep representing England and moving through the age groups. If the opportunity arose, I would also love to experience playing club hockey abroad, particularly in Spain or Argentina.”

Josh shares similar ambitions. “My goal is to keep playing hockey for as long as possible. Being able to play multiple sports is one of the amazing opportunities that Millfield provides, and I want to make the most of it during my time here.”