Inside the Circle with Rory Penrose: GB Hockey, Germany and the Next Step
Breaking into senior international hockey is difficult enough.
Doing it while completing a university degree, progressing through England's age-group pathway and preparing for your first season playing abroad adds another level entirely.
That's exactly where Rory Penrose finds himself.
After progressing through England U16s, U18s and U21s, Rory has now made the step into senior international hockey, earning Pro League opportunities in Argentina and India while establishing himself within the wider GB programme.
And with university now complete, the next challenge is already waiting.
Germany.
In this edition of Inside the Circle, Rory joins Total-Hockey to talk about his pathway through international hockey, balancing sport with a mathematics and economics degree at Loughborough, the phone call that led to his senior debut, his move into the German league, Nike hockey equipment, drag flicking and why coaching the next generation has already become an important part of his journey.
Watch the full Inside the Circle interview with Rory Penrose below, or keep reading for the biggest stories, insights and lessons from his journey through the England and GB hockey pathway.
From School Hockey to the England Pathway
Rory's hockey journey has taken him through several important environments.
School hockey.
Reading Hockey Club.
Loughborough University.
England age-group hockey.
And now senior international competition.
That pathway has meant gradually stepping up the level at every stage.
Rory represented England at U16, U18 and U21 level before eventually moving into the senior setup.
But interestingly, he doesn't believe every jump felt the same.
Why U18 to U21 Is Such a Big Step
For Rory, one transition stands out:
U18 to U21.
At U18 level, players are still very much inside junior hockey.
At U21 level, the physicality and intensity begin to resemble the senior game.
Suddenly, being technically talented isn't enough.
You need to become faster.
Stronger.
Fitter.
More physically prepared.
Rory describes the later jump from U21 into the senior squad slightly differently.
By that point, much of the foundation is already there.
The challenge becomes maintaining the same intensity while adding another level of quality.
Developing Through England U21 Hockey
The U21 environment gave Rory experience against some of the strongest young players in world hockey.
European Championships brought together many of the best nations in the age group, while the Sultan of Johor Cup provided another major international tournament environment.
For Rory, those experiences helped create the foundations required for senior hockey.
You learn how international tournaments feel.
How quickly matches arrive.
How teams prepare.
And how small differences in quality become increasingly important as the level rises.
Why Belgium Were Such Good Opponents
One team Rory particularly enjoyed facing through the junior pathway was Belgium.
The matches tended to be competitive.
The teams knew each other well.
And there was a familiarity that developed after playing against many of the same players across several years.
Belgium also brought a style Rory enjoyed competing against.
Good structure.
Strong technical ability.
Quality on the ball.
Even when England ended up on the wrong side of the result, the matches were valuable.
And the Team He Hates Playing Against?
Ireland.
Rory jokes that England may sometimes look stronger on paper.
Then the match starts.
And Ireland suddenly become one of the hardest teams in the tournament to play against.
The intensity of the rivalry changes the game.
Matches become physical, competitive and difficult to control.
And, according to Rory, they seem to have a habit of ending in frustrating draws.
Spain aren't particularly enjoyable opponents either.
Their unpredictability creates a completely different challenge.
You can feel in control for most of a match.
Then suddenly Spain find 10 minutes of momentum and score several goals.
At international level, switching off isn't an option.
Balancing Elite Hockey With University
While progressing through international hockey, Rory was also studying mathematics and economics at Loughborough University.
Balancing those two worlds could easily have become overwhelming.
But Loughborough's environment made it considerably easier.
The university is structured around supporting high-performance athletes.
And for Rory, that support went far beyond simply having access to a hockey pitch.
Training Like a Professional Athlete at Loughborough
Rory describes Loughborough's sporting facilities as exceptional.
High-quality gyms.
Physiotherapy.
Nutrition support.
Psychologists.
Strength and conditioning.
Specialist staff.
The environment allowed university athletes to experience something very close to professional sport.
Training sessions also shared similarities with the GB setup.
The intensity.
The structure.
Even some of the drills.
For a player trying to progress into the senior international environment, that made Loughborough an ideal place to develop.
Extra Work When You Need It
One of the most useful parts of the setup was access to specialist support.
If Rory wanted to improve a particular physical area, he could approach the relevant coach and develop additional work around his existing training load.
That mattered.
Extra training only helps if it fits around everything else you're already doing.
Simply adding more sessions isn't always the answer.
The support team could help identify what was actually required.
Studying While Travelling With England
International hockey inevitably meant missing university.
Rather than allowing work to pile up, Rory tried to stay on top of it while travelling.
Modern university systems made that possible.
Lectures were recorded.
Materials were online.
Wi-Fi was often all he needed.
So while teammates might be relaxing between sessions, Rory could be catching up on mathematics or economics.
The university also provided flexibility around exams and deadlines.
That allowed him to pursue elite sport without feeling as though his academic life was being sacrificed.
Getting the Senior GB Opportunity
The move into senior hockey wasn't completely straightforward.
Rory spent several months in a talent confirmation phase, effectively an extended opportunity to prove he belonged inside the senior programme.
At that stage, nothing felt guaranteed.
Then came the first Pro League selection.
Except initially, Rory wasn't travelling.
He was named as a reserve.
And he was perfectly happy with that.
Simply being considered was already a positive sign.
Then an injury changed everything.
The Phone Call That Changed Everything
Rory had been training with the squad in case somebody needed to be replaced.
Eventually, the call came.
He was driving home when he found out he was being added to the travelling group heading to Argentina.
For a player who had dreamed about senior international hockey for years, it was one of those moments where maintaining composure becomes surprisingly difficult.
He called his family.
Tried not to crash the car.
And suddenly had to prepare for his first senior international trip.
First Caps in Argentina
Argentina brought several firsts.
First senior trip.
First caps.
First visit to South America.
First chance to properly integrate into a senior international squad.
Rory admits he initially felt like an outsider.
Most of the players already knew each other.
They had travelled together.
Played major tournaments together.
Built friendships.
He was the new player entering that environment.
But the squad quickly made him feel welcome.
And instead of being an intimidating first experience, the trip became something he thoroughly enjoyed.
A Second Late Call-Up
Then it happened again.
For the Pro League trip to India, Rory was once more initially selected as a reserve.
This time the call came even later.
Friday.
Flight on Monday.
An injury opened another place.
Suddenly Rory was heading back into senior international hockey.
For a young player trying to establish himself, those opportunities matter.
You may not know exactly when the chance is coming.
You just need to be ready when it does.
Why Senior Hockey Feels Different
Training alongside established GB internationals also gave Rory a new appreciation of the level required.
As a dominant U21 player, it's natural to wonder how big the difference really is.
Then you arrive at senior training.
And discover the answer.
Quite big.
Players such as Zach Wallace seem to have enormous amounts of time on the ball.
International defenders make everything difficult.
Goalscorers punish tiny mistakes.
The overall level of skill doesn't necessarily look impossible from the outside.
Until you try to compete against it.
Learning From GB's Best Players
Rory highlights several players who have impressed him inside the programme.
Zach Wallace.
Jacob Draper.
Jack Waller.
Sam Ward.
James Albery and others within an increasingly competitive group.
The biggest thing Rory noticed was how many players operate at genuine world-class level in their positions.
That raises the standard of training.
And it creates an environment where simply staying in the squad requires constant improvement.
Why Rory Believes This GB Group Can Achieve More
The disappointment of Paris remains part of the wider GB story.
But Rory believes the current group has enormous potential.
There is depth.
There is experience.
And there are younger players beginning to push through.
England have consistently competed near the top of major tournaments.
The challenge now is converting that consistency into titles.
For Rory, the objective is simply to keep progressing until he can become a regular part of that team.
The Next Challenge: Germany
After finishing university, Rory faced a major decision.
What next?
Playing abroad had always interested him.
If the senior programme didn't work out immediately, moving into European club hockey was already part of the plan.
Then even after earning a place inside the wider GB setup, the opportunity still made sense.
Germany offered something different.
A new league.
A new culture.
New teammates.
And another way to develop.
Why Play Hockey Abroad?
For Rory, experiencing another hockey culture can only make him a better player.
German hockey won't necessarily be better or worse than the English game.
It will simply be different.
Different coaches see the sport differently.
Different leagues reward different things.
Different opponents expose different weaknesses.
The more environments you experience, the more solutions you can add to your game.
Why the German League Appeals
One of the biggest attractions is competitiveness.
Germany has strong teams throughout the league.
Even clubs lower down the table can challenge those at the top.
That means there are very few easy weekends.
For a young player trying to develop, that's exactly what you want.
Every match matters.
Every opponent can punish mistakes.
Every week creates another test.
Moving Away From Home
Of course, playing abroad isn't only a hockey decision.
It's also a major life change.
Rory will be living with other international players, including teammates from Scotland and South Africa.
New country.
New home.
New friendships.
New routine.
As the move gets closer, the excitement naturally mixes with a little nervousness.
That's part of the experience.
What Hockey Stick Does Rory Penrose Use?
Rory currently uses a Nike Laser Elite hockey stick.
Previously, he had been using the Nike Shadow Elite, which he particularly liked for general dribbling, passing and ball manipulation.
The change wasn't because he disliked the Shadow.
It came because his game required something slightly different.
Why Rory Changed to the Nike Laser Elite
Modern hockey increasingly rewards aerials and lifted skills.
Rory also drag flicks.
That made the more aggressive bow of the Laser Elite attractive.
The stick includes a pronounced ridge through the back, which Rory feels helps with flicking and aerial skills while still maintaining the qualities he wants for general play.
It's a good example of equipment selection following playing style.
He wasn't looking for a new stick because the old one was bad.
He was looking for a shape that better supported what his game was becoming.
Nike's Approach to Hockey Sticks
Rory also appreciates that Nike entered the hockey market with its own moulds.
Rather than simply copying shapes already available elsewhere, the sticks feel distinct.
For players, that creates more genuine choice.
Different moulds suit different skills.
Different positions.
Different preferences.
And like any equipment change, sometimes it takes time to learn how to get the most from a new shape.
What Hockey Shoes Does Rory Use?
Rory also wears Nike hockey shoes.
His main priorities are straightforward:
comfort and protection.
He had previously tried an older Nike turf-style model but found it too restrictive.
The newer shoes feel considerably more suited to hockey.
Light enough to move comfortably.
Protective enough that taking a ball to the foot isn't terrifying.
That's an important balance.
Why Hockey Shoes Need Both Speed and Protection
Some hockey shoes feel extremely light and comfortable.
Then the ball hits your foot.
Others offer lots of protection.
But can feel like you're running around with tanks attached to your feet.
For Rory, the best option sits somewhere between those extremes.
You need enough protection to play confidently.
But not so much bulk that movement becomes compromised.
Drag Flicking at the Highest Level
Rory is also a drag flicker.
And the skill is becoming increasingly difficult at elite level.
Why?
Penalty-corner defence is improving.
First runners are quicker.
Goalkeepers analyse flickers in enormous detail.
Teams know which corners you favour.
They know your historical tendencies.
And they may have footage covering dozens of previous flicks.
Why Penalty-Corner Conversion Is Falling
At the highest level, very little remains secret.
If you're an established flicker, opponents know who you are.
They study which side you prefer.
How your body moves.
Where you score.
Where you miss.
Combine that analysis with better first running and elite goalkeeping, and scoring becomes extremely difficult.
That creates another challenge for flickers:
You need to keep evolving.
Injection Speed Matters
When discussing the penalty-corner routine, Rory places particular value on injection speed.
A faster injection creates more time at the top of the circle.
Even half a second can make a significant difference.
It gives the flicker more space before the first runner arrives.
And even when the trap isn't completely clean, the resulting adjustment can occasionally work in the attacker's favour because the defensive runner has prepared for a different angle.
Penalty corners are full of small margins.
Coaching the Next Generation
Despite being relatively early in his own senior career, Rory has already spent years coaching younger players.
He started helping with hockey camps while still in his mid-teens.
And it's something he wants to continue.
Why?
Because passing knowledge on is rewarding.
You don't need every young player in a session to transform overnight.
Sometimes helping one player understand something new is enough.
What Does Rory Like Coaching?
The answer depends on the environment.
If he were working with a team throughout an entire season, Rory would place more emphasis on tactical ideas, structure and decision-making.
At a one-day camp, technical skills often make more sense.
Aerials.
Drag flicking.
Passing.
Slapping.
Those skills can often improve noticeably with a few small technical adjustments.
And seeing a young player suddenly perform a skill they couldn't do at the beginning of the day is one of the most rewarding parts of coaching.
What Makes a Good Coach?
Rory doesn't point to one single coach who transformed his career.
Instead, he values the different habits and ideas coaches have given him.
One of the qualities he appreciates most is simply being willing to talk.
A coach who explains why something works gives players a deeper understanding.
And a coach who is willing to have their ideas questioned creates an environment where players can genuinely learn.
Tough Love Can Work Too
Some coaching relationships aren't immediately comfortable.
Rory remembers entering the U21 environment as a relatively raw 18-year-old and experiencing a tougher coaching style.
At first, it could feel harsh.
Over time, mutual respect developed.
And by the final tournaments of his age-group career, Rory could see the benefit.
Great coaches don't simply teach skills.
They help players believe they're capable of performing them under pressure.
Rory's View on the New Aerial Rule
The interview also touches on recent rule changes.
Rory likes the updated interpretation around aerial receptions.
Previously, attackers receiving an aerial could sometimes use the protected space around them to take a long time bringing the ball under complete control.
Defenders had to stay away.
Under the newer interpretation, once the receiver has made the first controlled touch, defenders can engage sooner.
Rory believes that makes the situation fairer.
Could the New Rule Change Tactics?
Potentially.
Rory even wonders whether attacking teams might deliberately throw aerials towards defenders inside deep defensive zones.
Why?
Because once the defender controls the ball, attackers can immediately press.
Instead of using an aerial purely to find a teammate, it could potentially become a way of forcing the opposition into a difficult receiving situation.
Whether teams actually start using that tactic remains to be seen.
But it's an interesting example of how one rule change can create completely new ideas.
One Rule Rory Would Change
Rory would also like outdoor hockey to adopt something closer to the indoor interpretation around dangerous crash balls.
With more players wearing protective gloves and defending low to the ground, deliberately smashing the ball through somebody's space can become dangerous.
He'd like greater protection for defenders who are clearly set in a low blocking position.
His argument is also tactical.
If teams can't simply crash the ball through defenders, attackers would be forced to find more creative solutions.
And more creativity is rarely a bad thing for hockey.
What Can Hockey Players Learn From Rory Penrose?
Rory's career is still developing, which is exactly what makes his story interesting.
He's not looking back on international hockey from retirement.
He's in the middle of trying to build the career.
And there are already several useful lessons.
First, stay ready.
Both of his early senior Pro League opportunities came after initially being named as a reserve.
Injuries created opportunities.
Preparation allowed him to take them.
Second, embrace different environments.
University hockey, England age-group teams, senior GB training and now German club hockey all offer different lessons.
Third, let your equipment evolve with your game.
Rory moved from the Nike Shadow Elite to the Laser Elite because aerials and drag flicking were becoming more important to the way he played.
And finally, keep learning while helping others learn too.
Despite still chasing his own senior international ambitions, Rory is already coaching young players and passing on what he's discovered.
The next chapter now begins in Germany.
And with senior GB opportunities already arriving, it could be a very interesting one.
Watch the full Inside the Circle interview with Rory Penrose to hear more about his England and GB journey, Pro League debut, move to Germany, Nike hockey equipment, drag flicking and coaching the next generation.
