england women hockey

The England team celebrate with their gold medals after winning the Women's Gold Medal Hockey match against Australia. Image provided by PA/Alamy.

England Women win glorious hockey gold

England Women’s hockey side won a first-ever Commonwealth Games gold medal after defeating Australia 2-1 in Birmingham.

In a predictably tense and edgy encounter, goals from Holly Hunter and Tess Howard proved to be enough for a maiden title despite a late consolidation for the Hockeyroos.

The historic victory – 24 years in the making – means that England have now finally won the top prize in Commonwealth hockey after claiming either silver or bronze at every Games since 1998.

Eight Loughborough-linked players and support staff were part of the England team, including current students Izzy Petter and Ellie Rayer, and alumnae Giselle Ansley, Maddie Hinch, and Laura Unsworth.

The side is also coached by alumnus David Ralph, with former Loughborough player Sabbie Heesh and Lizzie Neal (alumna — travelling reserve) both playing a part.

The win completed a flawless campaign for England Women who remained unbeaten throughout, scoring 23 goals and conceding just two.

eng hockey celebrate victory

Team England celebrates after the full-time whistle. Image provided by PA/Alamy. 

In a brilliant return for Loughborough, all players performed incredibly throughout the tournament, including both Hinch and Petter playing a vital role in reaching this afternoon’s final, as they starred in Friday’s shootout win versus New Zealand in the semi-finals.

England's victorious captain Hollie Pearne-Webb told BBC Sport:

"I'm a bit lost for words - it's the first time in history we've ever done this. It's a new group. I think over the next two years it's pretty exciting when we join up with the GB squad when the Scots and the Welsh come in.

"The crowd's support has been absolutely phenomenal. I just feel so lucky that's it's in my career that we get a home Commonwealth Games.”

Loughborough’s dedicated 2022 Commonwealth Games website features all the latest news, videos, and medal tables from Birmingham.

Notes for editors

Press release reference number: 22/164

Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.

It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2022 QS World University Rankings and University of the Year for Sport by The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2022.

Loughborough is in the top 10 of every national league table, being ranked 7th in The UK Complete University Guide 2022, and 10th in both the Guardian University League Table 2022 and the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2022.

Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and is in the top 10 in England for research intensity. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.

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