After a period of growth and change within the national squad since Florence, Italy last summer, The Team UK coaching team has selected the 25 athletes that will represent the United Kingdom and compete for a repeat gold medal performance in the 2019 IQA European Games being held in Germany, June 29th and 30th.

Keepers

Alex Macartney

Mat Croft

Seb Waters, Chaser Coach

Chasers

Edward Brett, Captain

Abbi Harris

Asia Piatek

Ben Malpass

Bex Lowe

Jeniva Chambers

Reuben Thompson

Sarah Ridley

Tom Norton

Tom Stevens

Tommy Ruler

Beaters

Alex Carpenter

Alice Walker

Bill Orridge, Beater Coach

Carina Werner

Daniel Trick

Jacopo Sartori

Jan Mikolajczak

Kerry Aziz

Mikey Orridge

Seekers

Callum Lake

Jordan Aymer-Jeffrey

Staff

Jemma Thripp, Team UK Manager

James Thanangadan, Head Coach

Jay Holmes, Assistant Coach

Ben Morton, Seeker Coach

Head Coach, James ‘JT’ Thanangadan, has this to say about the squad and his expectations:

After a successful season of training and competition, we are pleased to present the 25 players who will be representing the UK at this year’s European Games.

This has been one of the most competitive seasons for selection as everyone has stepped up their game. The coaches and I feel that those selected have shown the required skill and commitment to the training squad over the season as well as striking a balance of new blood and experience as we look towards World Cup 2020.

The players will fly to Bamberg to attend the 2019 IQA European Games, where 20 national teams from across the continent will compete for the title of international champions. This has been one of the most competitive seasons for selection as everyone has stepped up their game for the privilege of representing the UK. The coaches feel that the squad selected have shown the required skill and commitment to the training squad over the season, as well as striking a balance of new blood and experience as they look towards World Cup 2020.

Assistant Coach, Jay Holmes, is excited about the tournament:

I’m really excited to see the direction we can take the team in this year, we’ve got a new culture in the team since losing out on a medal last World Cup and I think people are going to notice a serious shift in team attitude.

What helps us to excel is just how close we are as a unit, from the top to the bottom everyone has their fair say and puts in the effort you’d expect from a national team in any other sport.

What helps us to excel is just how close we are as a unit, from the top to the bottom everyone has their fair say and puts in the effort you’d expect from a national team in any other sport.

Obviously we’re coming into this having won the previous EG and really have the point to prove that we’re still the best team in Europe. The whole team really have the need to prove themselves not just to Europe but the World as this is our warm-up for the World Cup.

Inspired by the Harry Potter books, quidditch has evolved into a serious and competitive sport around the world. The sport has taken elements from the book – brooms as a handicap, bludgers to knock teams off gameplay as examples – and applied it to real life. The sport is played by thousands of players in Europe and beyond, and is making strides for legitimacy. During the last IQA World Cup in 2018, the United States took the Gold in a close game against Belgium, with Turkey taking Bronze against the United Kingdom.

Matt Bateman, President of QuidditchUK:

We’re excited to see Team UK compete again on the international stage in Germany this summer, going against the best of what Europe has to offer.

After a tight loss against Turkey in the bronze medal playoff at World Cup, the coaches and athletes have been training hard to reclaim their title as the best team in Europe, while building a strong squad to take the world title in 2020. We wish our players all the best and know they will do us proud.

To the players chosen; you represent the absolute best of attitude, ability, and athleticism in our sport. QuidditchUK want to congratulate you on your selection and we wish Team UK the very best of luck as they take on the rest of Europe to bring home the gold. You’ll do all of us proud.

Further information about European Games can be found here.

For any questions or comments about European Games or Team UK, please get in touch via www.quidditchuk.org/about/contact-us