We are excited to bring back our Player Profiles for the 25/26 Season. Each week we will interview a new player from RHC ranging from U12's up to The First Teams.

To kick off the series we spoke to Boys' U16 Player Dexter Phipps, who is in his second year at the club!

1. At what age did you start playing hockey and what and/or who encouraged you to get involved?
I first tried hockey at a summer camp taster. I joined Gwent HC in Year 5/U12s → now in U16s starting my 5th season

2. Who is your sporting role model and why?
Jacob Draper — started at Gwent HC like me, 2x Olympian, GB player, first Welsh player to win Euro Cup & Pinoké HC captain. (His mum was my U12 coach!)

4. If you have to give one bit of advice to your younger self, what would it be?
Enjoy every training session + play other sports too. They give you skills that make you stand out! And most importantly — focus on your own journey, not what everyone else is doing.

5. Who is your favourite player at Repton HC to play alongside and why?
Duncan, our goalkeeper. Top goalie and a great person — I love practicing goal scoring against him, he always makes it a challenge

6. Do you have any pre game rituals or superstitions and if so what?
Visualising the type of game I want to play before I step on the pitch.

7. What is your go to pre-game meal?
Tuna pesto pasta — simple but perfect fuel.

8. If you could share a dinner with 3 famous people dead or alive who would this be?
Jacob Draper, Alexander Hendrickx & Jeroen Hertzberger… (was lucky enough to have dinner with Adam Dixon last week!) and maybe sneak in a goal-scoring lesson after dinner from Sam Ward too.

9. Which game this season are you most looking forward to?
Wimbledon — we lost to them in the U14 finals last year, so there’s unfinished business

10. What has been your favourite hockey achievement to date?
Trialling for Wales U21s this summer. (No U16 or U18 programme in the boys Welsh pathway this year) Training alongside them and getting to the final stage was a huge experience learning from top athletes.

11. What is your pregame song?
Psycho Killer — Talking Heads

12. If you could represent your country in any sport, what would it be and why?
Hockey all the way, but the dream is to play for GB. Sport runs in the family — my Mum was British Champion in Tae-kwon-do and my grandfather played rugby for Wales.

13. What is a hidden talent or hobby most people don’t know you have?
Love cooking! When I’m home, I relax by making Italian or Japanese dishes, I also have a passion for Greek Mythology!