Stirling hockey players celebrate historic Scotland success

University of Stirling athletes were part of the Scotland men’s U21 side which won European gold and qualified for the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup for the first time in more than two decades.

Rohan Marwaha and Lewis McGuinness, both 19, were in the dominant Scotland squad that went unbeaten throughout the EuroHockey U21 Championship II-A, producing four tournament wins out of four.

Scotland’s campaign culminated in a decisive victory over Czechia in the final, securing the gold medal and promotion to next year’s top-tier EuroHockey U21 Championship. The result also confirmed Scotland’s place at the FIH Hockey Men’s Junior World Cup, marking the nation’s first appearance at the tournament since 2001.

Rohan Marwaha and Lewis McGuinness

Goalkeeper Lewis, from East Kilbride, said: “It was a great experience for the team, and with it being very close not squad it made it a very enjoyable and memorable experience for all. Making history is always amazing, especially for the future generation of players over the next few years – it gives the best and highest exposure possible to international hockey.”

Defender Rohan Marwaha, from Balfron, said: “Representing my country is always a huge honour, and it was an incredibly enjoyable experience to be part of such a successful Scotland U21 team. Winning European gold and helping the team qualify for the Junior World Cup made the tournament even more special.”

Meanwhile, fellow Stirling athlete Lexie McMillan, 21, from Perth, also made her mark on the international stage as part of the Scotland Women’s U21 squad which secured qualification for the FIH Hockey Women’s Junior World Cup for only the fourth time in the nation’s history. They also retained their position in the A Division, which hasn’t been done in 24 years.

Lexie, who is a forward, said: “Representing Scotland U21 at an A division Euros was a huge honour. Competing against some of the best junior teams in the world and beating Ireland in the final match to secure our place in the A division made all our hard work pay off.”

Lexie McMillan

The EuroHockey Championships are Europe’s leading international hockey competitions, featuring the continent’s top national teams across senior and age-group levels. In addition to determining European rankings and titles, the tournaments also serve as qualification pathways for global events, adding further significance to Scotland’s performances this summer.

David Bond, Director of Performance Sport at the University of Stirling, said: “Representing your country is always a tremendous honour, and to do so with such distinction on the European stage is a testament to the hard work, commitment and resilience Rohan, Lewis and Lexie have shown.

“For Rohan and Lewis to help Scotland become European champions and qualify for the Junior World Cup for the first time in 25 years is a fantastic achievement. Lexie has also played an important role in helping the women’s team secure only their second-ever appearance at the Junior World Cup, underlining the exciting progress being made by Scottish hockey.

“We are incredibly proud of all three athletes. Their success reflects not only their individual talent and dedication, but also the strength of the performance environment we have at Stirling. Supporting student-athletes to combine academic study with elite sport is central to what we do, and we look forward to following their continued success on the international stage.”

Rohan Marwaha, Lexie McMillan, Lewis McGuinness, and David Bond