ABERGAVENNY’S Rose Thomas is set to achieve a childhood ambition after being selected for the Great Britain hockey squad.

Thomas, who will also represent Wales at the Commonwealth Games in April, will head to Argentina with Team GB next month.

The goalkeeper will become the first Welsh women to play for the Olympic champions since double Olympian Sarah Thomas in 2012.

“When I was 13 I said my ultimate goal was to play for GB,” said the former Caerleon Comprehensive School pupil. “I’ve really worked hard for that.”

Thomas, who started out at Newport Ladies HC but now represents Holcombe HC, is one of eight uncapped players in the 20-strong GB squad for the five-Test series in South America.

She is joined by fellow newcomers Amy Costello, Emily Defroand, Nicola Cochrane, Jo Hunter, Hannah Martin, Ellie Rayer and Anna Toman.

Thomas has been playing for Wales since she was 13 and joined Holcombe this season from Wimbledon, where she won the Investec Conference East League. She first made the GB centralised training group during last year.

Captain Alex Danson is in line to make her 100th appearance for Great Britain in Rosario, but the experienced duo of Maddie Hinch and Lily Owsley are not selected in order to give other players a chance to test themselves at the highest level.

“We have deliberately selected a GB squad, despite the proximity of the Commonwealth Games, to allow us to give experiential developmental opportunity of playing a world leading team to athletes early enough in the Olympic cycle,” said Team GB head coach Dean Kerry.

“We look forward to seeing how those who will receive new GB caps rise to the opportunity and understand the developmental journey ahead.

“Argentina is my favourite place to go and play test match hockey because the crowds are so passionate and knowledgeable.”

GB women’s hockey squad: Giselle Ansley, Sophie Bray, Nicola Cochrane, Amy Costello, Alex Danson (captain), Emily Defroand, Sarah Haycroft, Jo Hunter, Hannah Martin, Shona McCallin, Hollie Pearne-Webb, Ellie Rayer, Sarah Robertson, Zoe Shipperley, Rose Thomas, Anna Toman, Susannah Townsend, Laura Unsworth, Ellie Watton, Nicola White