Hockey Wales

What Hockey Wales does

Hockey Wales (trading as Hoci Cymru) is the National Governing Body for field hockey in Wales, operating as The Welsh Hockey Union Ltd, a company limited by guarantee incorporated on 8 September 2003 and headquartered at the Sport Wales National Centre, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff (CF11 9SW). The organization runs the complete hockey pathway in Wales, from Junior Dragon Development Centres (ages 11–13) through Dragon Development Centres (ages 13–18) and Regional Performance Centres, up to senior national teams and Masters squads spanning Over 35s to Over 75s for men and Over 70s for women. It governs affiliated clubs, schools, coaches, umpires, and competitions, and represents Wales in international fixtures including the FIH Hockey World Cup (qualified for 2023 and 2026), the EuroHockey Championships, the Commonwealth Games, and Four Nations/Masters tournaments.

The core technology stack is a Wix-hosted website (hockeywales.org.uk) supplemented by the Hockey Hub e-learning platform developed in partnership with Great Britain Hockey (shared with England Hockey), which delivers coaching, umpiring, and player education content. Supplementary tools include the Veo video analysis platform (partner integration for clubs and schools), a Club Finder digital tool, an online membership portal, event ticketing for international fixtures at the National Hockey Centre, and an affiliate-style e-commerce shop routing members to partner retailers including Castore, Kitlocker, NetWorld Sports, Physique Management, and Bearhug. The organization maintains active social and content channels across Facebook, Instagram, X, YouTube, LinkedIn, email, and a blog/news section.

Revenue is generated through a mix of centrally managed annual membership fees (players, coaches, umpires, clubs), event ticket sales for international matches, Hwyl Hoci holiday camps, and National Schools Championships (with explicit free Under 13 and concession tiers), coaching education fees, affiliate commissions from partner retailers, and public-sector funding from Sport Wales (core grants, co-located headquarters) and UK Sport (major-events and Olympic/Paralympic investment), supplemented by targeted crowdfunding for World Cup campaigns. The company has 11–50 employees and is governed by a board chaired by Bill Riley with CEO Paul Whapham (appointed March 2023, previously Corporate Brand Director at the Ospreys).

Name

Hockey Wales

Legal name

The Welsh Hockey Union Ltd

Website

https://hockeywales.org.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Hockey Wales (Hoci Cymru) is the National Governing Body for field hockey in Wales, running the full player pathway from junior development centres through senior and Masters national teams, delivering events, coaching, and umpiring education to clubs, schools, and members across Wales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

National Sports Governance

NAICS

Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Spectator Sports (71121)

SIC

Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997)

akta.pro primary industry

National Governing Bodies (NGBs) (MPAKAFAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Amateur Sport Governing Bodies & Federations (National/Regional) (MPAKACAD)

Keywords

• Field hockey governance
• National sports federation
• Youth hockey development
• Coach education programs
• Sports membership services

Headquarters

HQ city

Wales

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual membership fees for players, coaches, umpires, and clubs affiliated with Hockey Wales
2. Event Ticket Sales: Revenue from ticketed events including international matches, summer series, Hwyl Hoci camps, and National Schools Championships
3. Retail/Shop: Partner retail relationships with Castore, Kitlocker, NetWorld Sports, Physique Management, Bearhug offering discount codes to members
4. Coaching Education: Revenue from coach education programs and qualifications

Pricing tiers

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Hockey Wales (Hoci Cymru) operates as the National Governing Body for field hockey in Wales, delivering membership services, national team management (senior men, senior women, Masters), a tiered player pathway programme (Junior Dragon Development Centres through National Age Groups), coach and umpire education, holiday coaching camps, and event hosting including international fixtures at the National Hockey Centre in Cardiff.

Product overview

Hockey Wales (Hoci Cymru) operates as the National Governing Body for field hockey in Wales, offering a portfolio of programmes and services rather than a single product. The core digital presence is the Hoci Cymru website, which serves as the primary portal for membership, events, and information. The portfolio includes: the Hwyl Hoci Camps holiday programme for children; the Player Pathway Programme with three-tiered development centres; the Wales Masters Hockey programme for Over 35s through Over 75s; the Hockey Young Ambassador (HYA) leadership programme for ages 12-21; the Hockey Makers volunteering initiative; the Hockey Hub online training platform (developed in partnership with Great Britain Hockey); a Club Finder tool; and the Hoci Cymru Shop e-commerce platform connecting members with partner retailers. The organization also manages national teams, competitions, coaching, and umpiring development.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Membership Services Annual memberships for individual players, coaches, umpires, and clubs, providing affiliation with the National Governing Body, access to competitions, safeguarding standards, and eligibility to represent Wales.
• Hwyl Hoci Camps Paid holiday coaching camps for children aged 7-14, including standard camps and inclusion camps for all abilities, run by Hoci Cymru coaches with equipment and coaching provided.
• Hoci Cymru Summer Series – Match Tickets Individual match tickets for international hockey fixtures at the National Hockey Centre in Cardiff, including Wales vs Malaysia (Women) and Wales vs Chile (Men), with tiered adult, concession, youth, and free under-13 pricing.
• Hoci Cymru Summer Series – Series Pass Bundled series pass providing access to all Summer Series international fixtures (Wales vs Malaysia, Chile, and South Africa) at the National Hockey Centre, Cardiff, with adult (£72) and concession (£48) pricing.
• Hockey Hub Online training and learning platform developed in partnership with Great Britain Hockey, offering education resources, courses, and content for coaches, umpires, teachers, and players.
• Player Pathway Programme Tiered talent development programme with Junior Dragon Development Centres (ages 11-13), Dragon Development Centres (ages 13-18), and Regional Performance Centres, leading to National Age Group and senior team representation.
• Wales Masters Hockey Programme Competitive age-group hockey programme for players aged 35 and over, with squads from Over 35s to Over 75s (men) and Over 35s to Over 70s (women), competing in Four Nations, European, and World Cup tournaments.
• Hoci Cymru Shop Online platform connecting Hockey Wales members with partner retailers (Castore, Kitlocker, NetWorld Sports, Bearhug, Forza, Physique Management) for hockey equipment, apparel, and merchandise, with exclusive member discount codes.
• Hockey Young Ambassador (HYA) Programme Leadership and volunteer development programme for young people aged 12-21, building skills in coaching, umpiring, event management, and youth leadership within hockey.

Quantifiable outcome

• Wales senior men qualified for 2023 and 2026 Hockey World Cups - historic achievement
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

19 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• CastorecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium sportswear supplier providing official kit for Hockey Wales with dedicated online store at hockeywalesstore.co.uk
• KitlockercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSportswear retailer offering team kits and merchandise with discount codes for Hockey Wales members
• Destination SportminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial travel partner for team travel and tours to international competitions
• ForzaminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSports equipment brand providing hockey equipment and gear
• BearhugminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPerformance socks and apparel brand with discount code HCM15 for Hockey Wales members
• ACE Feet in MotionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPhysiotherapy partner providing foot and lower limb care for athletes
• Physique ManagementminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSports therapy and sports massage partner with discount code hockeywales for members
• Inspire SportminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational sports tours operator providing international tour experiences for youth squads
• Cardiff Met UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership for sports science, education and career pathways in hockey
• Swansea UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity partnership supporting student hockey and academic pathways
• Sport WalescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore funding and strategic partner for Welsh sport development, headquartered at Sport Wales National Centre
• Great Britain HockeycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic alignment for Olympic pathway, talent system framework, and Hockey Hub platform development including coach and umpire education
• England HockeycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint bid partner for 2026 World Cup hosting, shared Hockey Hub platform, and collaborative talent pathway framework
• UK SportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMajor events funding for EuroChamps27 and World Cup preparation tournaments, Olympic and Paralympic sport investment
• Welsh Sports AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWelsh sports governing body alliance providing shared advocacy and sector representation
• RenishawminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPrecision engineering company supporting Welsh sport with technology and innovation partnerships
• Dragon SignsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSignage partner providing event signage and branding solutions
• Route MediaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerMedia partner for advertising and promotional campaigns
• The National League (TNL)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational league partnership for domestic competition structure

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves1 record

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• Sport Wales: Statutory body for sport development in Wales, headquartered together with Hockey Wales at Sophia Gardens. Acts as a core funder, strategic partner, and the wider ecosystem in which Hockey Wales operates — comparable to Sport England relative to England Hockey.

Broad incumbents

• International Hockey Federation (FIH): Global governing body for field hockey, organiser of the FIH Hockey World Cup that Hockey Wales's senior men have now qualified for twice. Indirect peer that sets international competition standards, eligibility rules, and tournament economics relevant to Hockey Wales.
• Great Britain Hockey: Umbrella body representing Great Britain at Olympic level, responsible for elite GB national teams and the Olympic talent pathway. Direct strategic partner of Hockey Wales and co-developer of the Hockey Hub platform — operates a different (Olympic-elite) mandate.
• European Hockey Federation (EHF): Continental governing body running EuroHockey Championships and Qualifiers in which Wales women placed 2nd in 2022. Relevant comparator for cross-border federation operations, event hosting economics, and member-NGB support models.

Direct peers

• England Hockey: National Governing Body for field hockey in England, jointly hosting the 2026 World Cup bid with Hockey Wales and sharing the Hockey Hub platform. Direct peer in function, governance, and product offering, with significantly larger scale and budget.
• Hockey Ireland: All-island governing body for field hockey in Ireland with senior men's and women's international teams. Closest geographic and population-scale peer to Hockey Wales, and a fellow home-nation NGB within the British/Irish hockey ecosystem.
• Scottish Hockey: National Governing Body for field hockey in Scotland. Operates an analogous player pathway, national teams, and domestic competition structure — a like-for-like peer at smaller scale and similar resource profile to Hockey Wales.

Regional players

• Welsh Rugby Union: Other major national governing body operating within Welsh sport, sharing the Sport Wales National Centre ecosystem. Comparable organisational structure (company limited by guarantee) but operates in a vastly larger commercial market and serves as the dominant force Hockey Wales competes against for Welsh sporting attention.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HockeyWales
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC1EtERFBOStLWj07b_Y5SbQ
• Facebookfacebook.com/HockeyWales
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hockey-wales-hoci-cymru
• Instagraminstagram.com/hockey_wales

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hockey Wales