Inside the Circle with Jacob Draper: Wales Hockey, the Olympics and Taking the Road Less Travelled

From picking up a hockey stick almost by accident at a state school in South Wales to representing Great Britain at two Olympic Games, Jacob Draper's journey through hockey has been anything but conventional.

Along the way, he's helped Wales reach a first-ever Men's Hockey World Cup, won an EHL title with Pinoké, competed in the Hockey India League, represented GB in Tokyo and Paris and built a career playing some of the best club hockey in Europe.

And away from the pitch, he's also helped create a coffee business built around the hockey community.

In this edition of Inside the Circle, Jacob joins Total-Hockey to talk about accessibility within the sport, playing in India, life in the Dutch Hoofdklasse, his approach to hockey sticks and carbon content, representing Wales on the biggest stage and why he wants the next generation of players from South Wales to have opportunities he never expected to find himself.

Watch the full Inside the Circle interview with Jacob Draper below, or keep reading for the biggest stories, insights and lessons from his journey through Welsh, GB and international hockey.

Getting Into Hockey Almost by Accident

Jacob didn't grow up inside a traditional hockey environment.

Born in South Wales, rugby and football dominated the sporting landscape around him.

Hockey wasn't something he knew particularly well.

In fact, his introduction came because his school team simply needed another player.

A PE teacher, Miss Biddle, was involved in hockey and helped give boys at the school an opportunity to try the sport.

Jacob joined in.

Initially, his hockey apparently looked suspiciously like football.

There was plenty of kicking the ball and learning exactly what you were and weren't allowed to do with the stick.

But he enjoyed it.

And that chance introduction would eventually take him around the world.

Why Football Helped Jacob Become a Better Hockey Player

Jacob had already been a capable footballer before picking up hockey.

That experience helped.

The obvious technical elements were different, but many of the underlying skills transferred surprisingly well.

Spatial awareness.

Understanding positioning.

Finding space.

Reading teammates.

Knowing where opponents were likely to move.

For Jacob, those foundations made the transition into hockey easier than it might otherwise have been.

And he believes that represents a wider opportunity for the sport.

There are thousands of young football and rugby players who may have skills perfectly suited to hockey.

They simply haven't been given the opportunity to discover it.

The Accessibility Problem in Hockey

This becomes one of the strongest themes of the interview.

Jacob grew up attending a state school.

And in South Wales, access to hockey can be limited.

Football needs a ball and a few makeshift goals.

Rugby isn't particularly complicated to organise either.

Hockey requires more.

Sticks.

Shin pads.

Balls.

And, ideally, access to a suitable artificial surface.

For schools already operating with limited budgets, that creates a barrier.

It's much easier to buy a handful of footballs than enough hockey equipment for an entire class.

Why More State Schools Need Access to Hockey

Jacob believes this has a direct impact on who gets the opportunity to discover the sport.

If you're attending a school with strong hockey facilities and established teams, there's a good chance you'll be introduced to the game.

If you're not?

The opportunity may never arrive.

That's particularly frustrating because some of the young athletes currently choosing football or rugby could have enormous potential in hockey.

Jacob knows because he was one of them.

He only needed somebody to put a stick in his hands.

Inspiring the Next Player From South Wales

Jacob doesn't particularly enjoy talking about himself as a role model.

But he does have a clear ambition.

If another kid from South Wales — perhaps somebody who currently sees themselves as a footballer or rugby player — discovers hockey and eventually takes Jacob's place in the national team, he'll consider that a success.

For him, that's what legacy looks like.

It's not only about caps or tournaments.

It's showing somebody from a similar background that international hockey is possible.

The sport has given Jacob opportunities to travel the world and experience things he never expected growing up.

He wants somebody else to get the same chance.

Representing Wales

That connection with Wales runs throughout Jacob's career.

He is fiercely proud of representing his country.

Singing the Welsh anthem before a major international match remains one of the moments that can still make him emotional.

And that pride became particularly significant when Wales qualified for the 2023 Men's Hockey World Cup.

It was the first time the Welsh men's team had reached the tournament.

For Jacob and the wider squad, that meant making history.

Taking Wales to a First World Cup

Playing at a World Cup is significant for any international player.

Doing it as part of the first Welsh team ever to qualify gives it another meaning entirely.

The tournament took place in India — already one of the most intense hockey environments in the world.

Wales even came close to producing a huge result against the hosts.

For Jacob, that remains one of the standout experiences of his career.

But the achievement also highlights how differently international hockey operates depending on which country you represent.

The Reality of Playing International Hockey for Wales

Wales doesn't have the same financial resources as many of the world's biggest hockey nations.

Most players aren't full-time professionals.

They have jobs.

Careers.

Families.

Annual leave.

And then international hockey has to fit around everything else.

That means every major tournament demands sacrifice.

Players aren't simply turning up to represent their country.

They may be using holiday allowance, making arrangements with employers and contributing financially to the programme.

That creates a very different environment from a fully funded national setup.

Why the Welsh Team Bond Is So Strong

Those sacrifices can also bring people closer together.

Jacob has played alongside many of the same Welsh teammates for years.

They've travelled together.

Competed together.

Worked through difficult qualification campaigns together.

And because the squad contains people balancing completely different lives away from hockey, there's a strong appreciation of what everyone gives up to be there.

That bond was a major part of the journey to the World Cup.

Learning to Handle Big Tournaments

Before the World Cup and Olympics came another important experience.

The Commonwealth Games.

Jacob remembers being incredibly nervous before facing Pakistan at the Gold Coast Games.

He was still relatively inexperienced.

The crowds were far larger than he was used to.

And shortly before the match, he called his mum.

Her response wasn't exactly a carefully constructed sports-psychology speech.

It was essentially:

Get on with it.

That message apparently worked.

Jacob went out and played.

Why Early Big-Game Experiences Matter

Looking back, Jacob sees those early tournament experiences as incredibly important.

The Commonwealth Games.

European competition.

International matches.

Each one made the next major stage feel slightly more manageable.

By the time Tokyo arrived, he had already experienced pressure, crowds and major tournaments.

You can't completely recreate those moments in training.

Sometimes you simply have to step into them.

And, as Jacob points out, the worst-case scenario usually isn't as bad as you imagine.

Maybe you don't play particularly well.

The world keeps turning.

Then you learn and go again.

Tokyo: An Olympic Games Without the Olympic Feeling

Jacob represented Great Britain at Tokyo 2020.

Like many athletes from that Games, he remembers the experience as strange.

Huge stadiums.

Almost no spectators.

COVID testing.

Masks.

Restrictions.

And the constant fear that a positive test could end your Olympic Games before you'd had the chance to properly experience them.

For somebody arriving at their first Olympics, it could feel surreal.

But not necessarily in the way you'd imagined.

Taking Too Much Time to "Experience" Tokyo

Looking back, Jacob believes he perhaps approached Tokyo with the wrong mindset.

It was his first Olympics.

He wanted to take everything in.

Enjoy being there.

Experience the moment.

That's understandable.

But with hindsight, he feels he could have approached the tournament with more focus on the competitive objective.

That lesson would change his mindset for Paris.

Paris Was Completely Different

Paris 2024 finally delivered the Olympic atmosphere Tokyo had been missing.

The crowds were back.

The Village felt alive.

Players could interact more normally.

And the hockey stadium had genuine energy.

One of the standout experiences for Jacob was playing against France in front of a home crowd.

The atmosphere was intense.

Playing the host nation at their own Olympics is something very few hockey players get to experience.

Going to Paris to Win

This time, Jacob's mindset was different too.

He still wanted to enjoy being an Olympian.

But that wasn't enough.

He wanted a medal.

Great Britain had a strong squad and genuine ambition.

When the tournament again ended at the quarter-final stage, the disappointment was significant.

Tokyo and Paris produced similar outcomes.

But emotionally, they felt very different.

Paris hurt more because Jacob had arrived wanting more.

Turning Olympic Disappointment Into Motivation

There are always "what if" moments after a major tournament.

What could have changed?

What could the team have done differently?

What happens if one key moment goes another way?

But Jacob sees those experiences as motivation.

The GB squad remains relatively young.

Many players have progressed through the pathway together and have known each other since their late teens.

That continuity creates another opportunity.

The next target is clear.

Los Angeles 2028.

A GB Generation That Grew Up Together

Jacob highlights how many current GB players progressed through the under-21 pathway together.

Players who first travelled together as young internationals are now Olympic athletes.

That shared history matters.

They've spent years building relationships.

They understand one another on and off the pitch.

And if that group can remain together, LA offers another opportunity to convert that potential into an Olympic medal.

Playing in the Hockey India League

One of Jacob's most recent experiences took him back to India for the relaunched Hockey India League.

Franchise hockey is very different from international and traditional club competition.

Players from different countries are brought together through an auction.

Many have spent years playing against one another.

Now they're suddenly teammates.

And that can create some amusing situations.

When Rivals Become Teammates

Jacob had spent years competing fiercely against some of the Indian players he suddenly found himself sharing a dressing room with.

On the pitch, those relationships hadn't always looked particularly friendly.

Then the auction happened.

Messages arrived.

Congratulations.

Apparently, there would be no need to fight anymore.

Being inside the same team allowed Jacob to discover the people behind the opponents.

Players he'd previously judged based on intense international matches turned out to be completely different away from the pitch.

That's one of the great things about franchise hockey.

It breaks down rivalries.

"Embrace the Chaos"

From a tactical perspective, Jacob's description of the Hockey India League is wonderfully simple:

Embrace the chaos.

Teams have limited preparation time.

Players speak different languages.

Different hockey cultures collide.

Tactical meetings may require constant translation.

And whatever structure exists before the match can disappear fairly quickly once the whistle goes.

The result?

Fast, attacking, high-scoring hockey.

Why Hockey India League Matches Become So Open

Players aren't always familiar enough with one another to produce the same defensive organisation you'd expect from a long-established club or national team.

Communication can be difficult.

And the schedule is physically demanding.

By the end of matches, players are exhausted.

That can create enormous spaces.

More space means more attacks.

More attacks mean more goals.

For spectators, it's entertaining.

For the players trying to defend?

Perhaps slightly less enjoyable.

Experiencing Indian Hockey Culture

Jacob had already experienced India at the World Cup.

And few hockey environments can match it.

The noise inside an Indian stadium can be extraordinary.

At the World Cup, he remembers an atmosphere so loud that communicating across relatively short distances became difficult.

The Hockey India League didn't always reach quite that level, partly because the competition stretched across several weeks.

But there was still a level of promotion and visibility that hockey players don't experience in many other countries.

Billboards.

Television coverage.

Large crowds.

Hockey everywhere.

Enjoying the Experience Rather Than Obsessing Over Results

Interestingly, Jacob says he didn't arrive at the Hockey India League obsessed with winning the competition.

Of course, he wanted to win every match.

But his bigger objective was to experience the tournament.

Play with new teammates.

Learn.

Enjoy the opportunity.

Sometimes focusing too heavily on league tables and outcomes can remove some of the fun.

Especially in a franchise environment where the players around you are largely determined by an auction.

Jacob wanted to take whatever came.

Professional Hockey in the Netherlands

Away from the international game, Jacob has also built a successful career in Europe.

His journey has included Belgium and now the Netherlands with Pinoké.

Dutch hockey offers something particularly valuable:

week-in, week-out exposure to one of the strongest leagues in the world.

For Jacob, that environment is important to his development.

He wants to play against elite players every week.

He wants to compete for major trophies.

And he wants to be in the best possible physical and mental position to challenge for GB selection.

Becoming the First Welshman to Win the EHL

One of Jacob's biggest club achievements came with Pinoké in 2024.

The club won the Euro Hockey League, beating Kampong 1–0.

The result also made Jacob the first Welshman to win an EHL title.

It's another major milestone in a career that started without any expectation of elite hockey.

And it reinforces why playing abroad has become such an important part of his development.

Learning to Become an Experienced Player

Pinoké's squad has changed.

Several established players moved on, with younger talent taking their place.

That has pushed Jacob into a different role.

He's no longer always the young player learning from everybody else.

Now he's one of the experienced players.

That means more responsibility.

More accountability.

And more expectation to help younger teammates.

What Does Leadership Look Like?

Jacob doesn't particularly want to force himself into becoming a stereotypical senior leader.

He still likes joking around.

He wants younger players to find him approachable.

And he doesn't believe leadership always needs to involve speeches.

Instead, he prefers to lead through actions.

Do the work.

Set the standard.

Be available when somebody needs help.

Then, when it's time to perform, know where the line is between having fun and getting serious.

Learning From Great Leaders

Jacob mentions experienced figures from his career who showed him that leadership and personality don't have to be opposites.

You can be relaxed.

You can joke.

You can enjoy yourself.

But when the moment arrives to compete, standards change.

That's the balance he's now trying to pass on to the younger players around him.

Why Jacob Draper Uses Shrey Hockey

Jacob now plays with Shrey Hockey equipment.

And he's extremely particular about his sticks.

Weight matters.

Balance matters.

Small differences matter.

For a player who knows exactly how he wants his equipment to feel, consistency becomes crucial.

Shrey's ability to create sticks to those specifications has been one of the biggest attractions.

The Surprising Carbon Content of Jacob Draper's Stick

Here's where things get particularly interesting for anyone convinced that more carbon automatically means a better hockey stick.

Jacob generally prefers around 60% carbon.

Not 100%.

Not the stiffest stick available.

Why?

Feel.

Jacob doesn't rely heavily on traditional hitting.

He values control and touch more than maximum stiffness and power.

A softer stick gives him the feedback he wants on the ball.

Do Elite Players Really Use 100% Carbon Sticks?

According to Jacob, many don't.

His experience around international hockey suggests that plenty of elite players use sticks somewhere around the 60–80% carbon range.

That might surprise younger players who assume professional equals maximum carbon.

But elite players choose equipment based on what helps them perform.

Not what produces the biggest number on a specification sheet.

Why More Carbon Isn't Always Better

Higher carbon can provide stiffness and power.

But that comes with trade-offs.

First touch can become less forgiving.

The stick can feel harsher.

And for a player who primarily pushes, slaps, dribbles and receives rather than smashing traditional hits, the extra stiffness may not offer much benefit.

For Jacob, the softer construction makes sense.

It supports the way he actually plays.

Choose the Stick That Suits Your Game

This leads to one of Jacob's strongest pieces of advice.

Don't choose a hockey stick purely because of the brand.

Don't even assume the most expensive option will be the best.

Try different sticks.

Different bows.

Different weights.

Different balance points.

Then choose based on what actually feels right.

In many cases, the stick you prefer may not even be the most expensive one on the wall.

What Hockey Stick Does Jacob Draper Use?

Jacob uses a Shrey Phantom, with a low/late bow profile suited to his game.

He likes a very light setup.

The balance sits high, keeping weight away from the head.

That allows the stick to feel quick through his hands.

Aerials and 3D skills are among the strengths of his game, so the lower bow helps support those techniques.

Why Stick Weight Is So Personal

Jacob's preferred setup is very different from some of the Dutch players around him.

Many of them use much longer and heavier sticks.

Compared with theirs, Jacob's can feel almost like an indoor stick.

But that's exactly the point.

There is no universal perfect setup.

Height.

Playing position.

Technique.

Strength.

Skills.

Personal feel.

All of those influence what works.

Don't Change What Already Works

Jacob has used essentially the same type of setup since his late teens.

He's experimented.

But once you know what works, there isn't necessarily any benefit in changing everything simply because a new model appears.

Consistency creates confidence.

And at elite level, confidence in your equipment matters.

The Social Bean: Coffee and Hockey

Hockey isn't the only thing keeping Jacob busy.

He's also part of The Social Bean, a coffee business created with other hockey players.

Coffee already plays a huge role in hockey culture.

Training schedules.

University.

Travel.

Early mornings.

Late evenings.

Between-session recovery.

For Jacob, it became a genuine passion.

At one stage, buying coffee was apparently one of his biggest regular expenses.

Eventually, the obvious question emerged:

Why not create something of their own?

Building a Business Around the Hockey Community

The Social Bean operates using mobile coffee setups that can attend events.

And while it could try to compete at any type of event, the business deliberately maintains a strong connection with hockey.

That gives it an identity.

You're not simply buying a coffee.

You're supporting athletes developing something beyond their playing careers.

The people working within the business often come from hockey too.

Hockey Players Supporting Hockey Players

That principle goes even further.

When the business needed bakes and brownies, it could have chosen the cheapest supplier available.

Instead, they worked with Giselle Ansley's Stick or Whisk.

Why?

Because they wanted to support another hockey player building something away from the pitch.

That creates a small ecosystem.

Hockey players supporting other hockey players.

Businesses developing out of the sporting community.

And athletes creating options for life beyond elite competition.

Finding Something Beyond Hockey

Jacob believes athletes should pursue things they're genuinely passionate about.

Hockey careers don't last forever.

Having something outside the sport can be valuable both during and after competition.

The Social Bean gives him another challenge.

Something creative.

Something social.

And perhaps, one day, something that becomes much bigger.

There are even ideas about a permanent coffee shop and bar in the future.

For now, the mobile business allows the group to keep developing while hockey remains central to their lives.

What Can Hockey Players Learn From Jacob Draper?

Jacob's story offers plenty of lessons.

The first is take the opportunity when it appears.

He didn't grow up expecting to become a hockey player.

He joined because a school team needed somebody.

That decision eventually took him to World Cups, Olympic Games, European titles and professional hockey around the world.

The second is don't assume there's only one pathway into the sport.

You don't need to come from a traditional hockey school.

Football and rugby skills can transfer.

Different backgrounds can produce different players.

Third, choose equipment based on how you play.

A 100% carbon stick isn't automatically better because the number is bigger.

Jacob plays international hockey with a softer setup because touch and feel matter more to his game.

And finally, think about the legacy you want to leave.

For Jacob, success isn't simply being the player from South Wales who made it.

It's making sure he isn't the last one.

If another young footballer or rugby player gets handed a hockey stick, discovers the game and eventually pushes him out of the national squad?

He'll consider that a job well done.

Watch the full Inside the Circle interview with Jacob Draper to hear more about Wales and GB hockey, the Hockey India League, life with Pinoké, Shrey hockey sticks, The Social Bean and his journey from South Wales to the Olympic Games.