Turner makes international debut for England in win over South Africa

Jack Turner made his debut for the senior England hockey team in a 5-2 win over South Africa in Cape Town on Sunday.

The 19-year-old from Cookham Dean was selected for the England camp and parallel friendly tri-tournament, with the host nation and Germany, despite not being a centrally contracted player.

Turner was given the opportunity to gain experience with the men’s squad having recently represented the under-21s in the junior world cup in India.

The 21-man senior England squad contained 11 players yet to make their international debuts, playing alongside more established players such as Marlow's Sam Ward and Maidenhead resident Henry Weir.

Following the victory over South Africa, Turner played in the 3-0 defeat to Germany and subsequent 1-0 victory over South Africa.

The tour was scheduled to end with a second clash against Germany on Wednesday.

Turner, whose father Mark is head of sport at Claires Court School in Maidenhead, started playing the game at Maidenhead Hockey Club at the age of four years old and was at the club for six years before moving to Marlow Hockey Club where he stayed until he was 18.

He also attended Sir William Borlase’s Grammar School, in Marlow, which has a strong hockey tradition.

Turner captained England under-16s in 2013, the same year in which he was named the UK's under-16 player of the year. He is currently studying at Durham University.