THE Gwent pair of Jacob Draper and Rupert Shipperley will play at the Olympics for the second time after being called up by Great Britain for the hockey in Paris.

The Cwmbran duo will head to France after featuring in Tokyo when helping Team GB to a fifth-placed finish.

Defender Draper, 25, has been a mainstay of the side since making his debut in 2019 while midfielder/forward Shipperley scored on his first GB appearance the following year.

With fellow Wales international Gareth Furlong, they will be part of the men’s squad that heads for France hunting a first medal since taking gold in 1988.

Captain David Ames and Sam Ward are both heading to a third Games, while Draper, Shipperley, Phil Roper, Ollie Payne, Jack Waller and Liam Sanford have been selected for their second Games.

The seven debutants include 20-year-old defender Conor Williamson, who only made his England bow in August.

Four of the gold medallists from 2016 have been named in the women’s squad.

Laura Roper, who also has two bronze medals from London and Tokyo, will make her fourth appearance at the age of 36 while captain Hollie Pearne-Webb, Lily Owsley and Giselle Ansley have all been selected for a third Games.

Six other players also have previous Olympic experience – including Cardiff’s Sarah Jones, who won bronze in Japan – while there are six debutants, including Tess Howard, who missed out in 2021 with a serious knee injury.

Men’s head coach Paul Revington said: “This is the result of three years of effort, intensity, and real enjoyment together as a squad and we look forward to representing Great Britain on the biggest stage in our sport.

“The team that travels to Paris are only as strong as the squad around them and a reflection of the squad as a whole.

“Everyone has contributed unconditionally on our journey, adding immense value along the way and the selected athletes have the privilege of representing our locker room and their teammates at the Paris Olympic Games.”

Women’s head coach David Ralph said: “Whether this is your fourth Games or your first, being selected for an Olympics is an incredibly special moment which I know means a lot to all of our players.

“The GB women’s squad has a long history at the Olympic Games, and we now have the opportunity to create our own history. This is our moment and our chance to create memories for life.”

GB men's squad: James Albery, David Ames, Will Calnan, Jacob Draper, Gareth Furlong, David Goodfield, Lee Morton, Nick Park, Ollie Payne, Phil Roper, Liam Sanford, Rupert Shipperley, Zach Wallace, Jack Waller, Sam Ward, Conor Williamson. Reserves: James Mazarelo, Tim Nurse, Tom Sorsby.

GB women's squad: Giselle Ansley, Amy Costello, Fiona Crackles, Hannah French, Sophie Hamilton, Tess Howard, Sarah Jones, Lily Owsley, Hollie Pearne-Webb, Flora Peel, Izzy Petter, Miriam Pritchard, Sarah Robertson, Laura Roper, Anna Toman, Charlotte Watson. Reserves: Grace Balsdon, Jess Buchanan, Lily Walker.