A SAUNDERSFOOT hockey player is all set to represent Wales in the Masters World Cup.

Professional shepherd Kat Watkins has been selected for the Over 35s Wales Women’s Masters Hockey squad to take on the world’s best in Cape Town.

With 100 teams, over 2,100 participants, four venues, and seven turfs ready for action, Cape Town will be alive with the energy of Masters Hockey like never before.

Kat, 37, who has built up her own independent business and currently lambs 500 ewes annually and has a small herd of pedigree Angus cows, plays for Pembrokeshire Ladies Hockey Club.

The 18-player strong squad, which has been in training for around nine months, competed in the Indoor Hockey World Cup in Nottingham in March followed by the Home Nations competitions in Cork in May with many training camps in preparation for the World Cup.

The Masters World Cup begins on 12 October and Wales’ pool fixtures include games Zimbabwe on the 12th, Scotland on the 13th and New Zealand on the 15th.

Their results in the pool matches will determine where they will be placed in the placement matches, and they will play a total of six games.

Representing Wales in field hockey is a fully self-funded journey, so these players have all paid to get themselves to the World Cup, which makes it all a little bit more special despite it being a tough journey.

Supporters from home can watch via the live stream on the following link:https://m.youtube.com/@southafricanmastershockeya3681