Eurolax Sixes 2024 Teams
The British Lacrosse teams are about to head off to compete in the Eurolax Sixes. The men's team will meet Luxembourg & Turkey in their Pool C games, while the women's team will meet Spain & Switzerland in their Group B pool games.
All games are being played at Vila Real de Santo António, Portugal. The pool games take place on 23rd February 2024.
The teams are:
Congratulations to all selected, and good luck in Portugal
Clean sweep at Hong Kong Super Sixes
6 men's teams and 7 women's teams competed over 3 days in this fast paced, high intensity competition which took place at the Wong Chuk Hang Recreation Ground in Aberdeen, Hong Kong, China and we are delighted that the men's and women's teams both finished in first place.
More details can be found on the event page:
Congratulations to both teams - what a great way to end the year.
Hong Kong Sixes Selection
Congratulations to everyone who has been selected for the Hong Kong Sixes.
“Firstly, on behalf of the Board, our thanks to all the athletes who participated in the selection process, and congratulations to those chosen to represent British Lacrosse at the Super Sixes Tournament in Hong Kong. We are immensely proud of our athletes and wish them the best. With the recent IOC announcement welcoming lacrosse to participate at LA28, our attention is now firmly on qualifying for that tournament. International competitions and tournament experience will be a critical part of our preparation and qualification journey. Hong Kong now serves as the first of many stepping stones for our teams with clear Olympic aspirations”
Leslie Rance, British Lacrosse Chair
Lacrosse Returns to Olympic Lineup in 2028
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has ushered in a golden opportunity for lacrosse players across the globe by officially including lacrosse on the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic programme.
Great Britain boasts a rich lacrosse history stretching back to 1883, and today’s news heralds a significant opportunity to write a new chapter 80 years after the sport last appeared on the Olympic stage, as a demonstration sport in London at the 1948 Olympic Games.
Fast forward to the present day and Great Britain men and women are both ranked number four in the world in the sixes format of the sport. This follows the 2022 World Games in Birmingham Alabama where GB women lost 13:7 to Australia in the bronze medal match, while the GB men were tied 18:18 with Japan at the end of regulation time in a breathless matchup, before a golden goal in overtime snatched the bronze medal away from GB.
The IOC’s decision underlines the growth and progress of lacrosse over recent years. Inclusion on the world’s biggest sporting stage is testament to the tireless efforts of World Lacrosse, supported by a global community of administrators, players, coaches, volunteers, and fans who have championed the sport at all levels.
LA28 will mark the third Olympic appearance for North America’s first sport that is now played in nearly 100 countries around the world, after it was contested in 1904 (St. Louis) and 1908 (London). Lacrosse was later featured as a demonstration sport in three Olympics: Amsterdam 1928, Los Angeles 1932 and London 1948.
In 2028, men’s and women’s lacrosse will be competed in sixes, an incredibly fast-paced, compact version of the sport, which is characterised by an accelerated, open style of play with quick transitions and non-stop, high-scoring action.
Reflecting on the IOC’s decision, Leslie Rance, Chair of British Lacrosse, said: "This is a monumental moment for lacrosse in Great Britain and indeed for the global lacrosse community. Our athletes have the unparalleled opportunity to represent their nation at an Olympic Games which is something we’ve been waiting for, for a very long time.
“We know there is a lot of work to do over the coming years, firstly to qualify for the Games and then to make sure we are prepared to compete for medals, but I know that our team of coaches, support staff and players are ready for the exciting challenges which lie ahead.”
Tom Wenham, British Lacrosse Men’s Head Coach said: “I’m enormously proud of the players’ commitment and hard work up to and including the World Games 2022, but the narrow defeat to Japan for the bronze medal left us all with a feeling of unfinished business. To be able to now harness this energy as a catalyst for a potential medal bid at the Olympics Games is incredibly inspiring. We recognise the unique challenge and opportunity that this news provides, and we’re motivated and excited to take British Lacrosse to new levels.”
Phil Collier, British Lacrosse Women’s Head Coach said: “The decision to include sixes lacrosse in the 2028 Olympics is wonderful news, and will provide a further boost to the growth of our sport. The global spread of lacrosse in recent years has come alongside a rise in standards of play, and a speeding up of the game. At the top international level, sixes lacrosse showcases the best of that. Great athleticism alongside incredible and innovative stick skills.
“The decision also confirms the British team as the pinnacle of sixes lacrosse for players across England, Scotland and Wales who want to compete at the highest level. What’s really exciting though, is knowing that right now, there are young players in schools, clubs and universities across the UK that can start to chase their own Olympic dreams, motivated to work hard to be the best lacrosse player they can be and to represent Great Britain at the Olympic Games.”
LA28 Olympic decision update
We are delighted to learn of LA28's decision to propose lacrosse for inclusion in the 2028 Olympic Games.
Inclusion on the Olympic programme at the LA 2028 Olympic Games would be a monumental milestone for our sport both in Britain and internationally.
We want to empower the best players from England, Scotland and Wales to come together and proudly represent Great Britain and the possibility for that to be on the Olympic stage is hugely exciting.
We will now wait for the IOC’s formal decision in the coming days.
Wenham & Collier Re-Appointed
Head Coaches Tom Wenham (men’s squad) and Phil Collier (women’s squad) have been re-appointed in their roles for the 2023-24 season.
Both coaches have recently announced their wider training squads ahead of finalising their final 12 player rosters for the upcoming Hong Kong Super Sixes tournament taking place 29-31st December 2023.
Competition opportunities in the new year are expected to include a return to the Eurolax Sixes Cup in Portugal.
Les Rance, Chair of British Lacrosse said: “I’m delighted that Tom and Phil have agreed to remain at the helm as British Lacrosse embarks on what promises to be an exciting season, including our first competition in Asia, the Hong Kong Super Sixes.
“We are operating in a compressed three-year World Games cycle due to the Covid enforced postponement of Birmingham 2022 and so the next few months are a critical period in our preparation for the 2025 World Games in Chengdu, China.”
Tom Wenham, British Lacrosse Men’s Head Coach said: “I’m honoured and excited to continue with the men’s squad at this really exciting time for our sport.
“Preparing for both the Hong Kong Super Sixes and EuroLax enables us to challenge ourselves at the highest level of competition as well providing opportunities for those new to the squad to step up and represent British Lacrosse.
“I’m extremely proud of the foundations we’ve been able to lay down to date and look forward to building on these with further success, both off and on the field, as we pursue our ambitious aims and objectives.”
Phil Collier, British Lacrosse Women’s Head Coach said: “It’s an honour and a privilege to be asked to continue in the Head Coach role.
“I’m really excited to start working with the talented group of players we have selected in our 23/24 training squad. I want to use the learning from last year’s World Games to help our players reach their full potential within the sixes game. Building a team that plays attractive and winning sixes lacrosse. A team that we can be proud of and one that is ready to compete successfully at the 2025 World Games and beyond.”
Both appointments run until 1st May 2024 at which point a decision will be made on the final coaching structure for the 2025 World Games.
Assistant coaches and support staff have also been confirmed in their positions as follows:
Men’s Squad: Ravi K. Sitlani (Assistant Coach), Andy Downing (Assistant Coach), Matt Collier (Medical Lead), Dr Nick Ripley (Strength and Conditioning Coach), Jack Brown-Schofield (Medical Support), Katya Oliver (Medical Support), Harry Hardstaff (Analyst), Shaun Cole (Analyst), Rafi Macintosh (Media).
Women’s Squad: Ailsa Stott (Assistant Coach / Medical & Anti-Doping Lead), Kate Nelson-Lee (Manager / Assistant Coach), Erica Erb (Coaching Assistant), Richard Lalor (S&C Coach), Andrew Jones (Physio).
Women’s training pool
The women's coaching staff are pleased to announce the British Lacrosse women’s training squad for 2023/24. This marks the start of our preparation for the next World Games which are due to be held in Chengdu, China in August 2025.
“Selecting a GB Sixes squad is a particularly challenging task. We have the privilege of choosing from the best players across England, Scotland and Wales and have selected a training squad with a balance of youthful potential and senior experience. These are exciting times for lacrosse, with the global growth of the game and we believe that this training squad can lay the foundations for future British Lacrosse success in international Sixes competition, wherever and whenever that might be.”
Phil Collier, Head Women’s Coach
Men’s training pool
The men’s coaching staff are pleased to announce the British Lacrosse men’s training squad for 2023/24. This training squad will compete in international Sixes events in line with the performance objectives of British Lacrosse.
Selection follows assessment of an unprecedented number of expressions of interest and engagement with Home Nations coaches.
Additional players will be added to the squad as and when relevant.
* These players will join the training squad following their return from injury.
“It’s been an extremely challenging process to select the training squad with so many talented players putting themselves forward for consideration. I’m really excited about the quality of the squad with a number of new players joining our more established squad members. Those existing players should be proud of the foundations they’ve helped to lay. Our focus is now to take the team to an even higher level of performance as we build towards the Hong Kong Super Sixes and beyond.”
Tom Wenham, Head Men’s Coach
Women’s Sixes Programme
Expression of interest open until 1 August
The below programme of dates (August to December) has been put together after consultation with national teams. We are very keen to work in harmony with each home country, and to avoid duplication and potential player overload.
| 12th & 13th August | Trials tournament |
| 9th & 10th September | Season Launch |
| 24th September (Sunday) | Training |
| 5th November (Sunday) | Joint training with BL Men |
| 9th & 10th December | Final training |
| 26th December - 1st January | Hong Kong Super Sixes |
Some key points:
- From those players registering their interest, we will invite around 42 to take part in the initial trials / tournament weekend. We recognise the short notice ahead of that weekend, and so there will be some flexibility applied for any players who already have commitments on those dates. Attending for just one of the two days, for example.
- We will be taking a squad of 12 women to Hong Kong.
- 2022 World Games training squad members will be automatically invited, although we are aware of several players who have retired, are injured or are currently giving priority to family / career / education matters. However, please could all players confirm their availability / interest in being involved via the Expression of Interest Form, even if NOT available for the Hong Kong tournament.
- We would love to hear any individual retirement news to be able to celebrate previous contributions to the team on social media. Please contact us via
- Following our initial trials / tournament weekend in August we will be looking to select a women’s training squad of 24 to 28 players which will be announced on this website on 16th August.
- British Lacrosse staff team: Phil Collier (Head Coach), Kate Nelson-Lee (Manager), Ailsa Stott (Asst Coach), Andy Jones (Physio), Rich Lalor (S&C), Erica Erb (Coaching Asst)
These are exciting times for lacrosse as the game continues to grow globally and we look forward to hearing from those players who are keen to be involved with one of the leading Sixes programmes in the world.
We want selection to be an open process, and so any eligible players (see Selection Policy) are invited to submit an application / register their interest using this link or the QR code below.
If you have any questions please contact Phil Collier at
