Inside the Circle with Marc Reyné: Spain, World Cup Silver and the Art of Being a Forward
What does it take to become one of the best forwards in international hockey?
For Spain's Marc Reyné, it isn't simply about hitting the ball harder, scoring more goals or having the most expensive hockey stick.
It's about learning when to use power, becoming a defender as well as an attacker, receiving difficult balls, communicating with the players around you and continually developing your game.
Marc joined us on Inside the Circle following a remarkable period for Spanish hockey, including a historic silver medal at the 2026 Hockey World Cup.
We talked about that World Cup journey, playing in some of hockey's biggest atmospheres, his development in Spain, moving to Belgian club hockey, his equipment and what he believes separates a good forward from an international one.
And there are plenty of lessons in this conversation for players at every level.
Watch the full Inside the Circle interview with Marc Reyné below, or keep reading for the biggest stories, insights and lessons from his journey through Spanish hockey, the 2026 World Cup and life as an international forward.
Spain's Historic World Cup Journey
Reaching a World Cup final is an incredible achievement.
For Spain, it carried even more significance.
Marc explained that it had been 28 years since Spain had reached a Hockey World Cup final.
There was naturally disappointment after losing the final, but with some time to reflect, the scale of what the team achieved becomes much clearer.
They had written another chapter in Spanish hockey history.
Marc also believes the results are evidence of something bigger.
This wasn't simply one good tournament.
Spain's young group has been developing together for several years, learning from mistakes and gradually becoming capable of competing consistently with the strongest nations in international hockey.
The challenge now isn't simply reaching the top.
It's staying there.
For Marc, that is one of the biggest ambitions for this Spanish team: to continue competing with the world's best over the coming years.
Playing a World Cup in India, Belgium and the Netherlands
Marc has also experienced some extraordinary hockey environments.
His first World Cup took him to India.
For a young team, playing in front of huge Indian crowds was an experience unlike almost anything they had encountered before.
Marc remembers standing before a match as the stadium went dark and the lights came on around them.
It was a genuine "what is happening here?" moment for a young group experiencing a Hockey World Cup in India.
The 2026 World Cup offered something completely different.
Playing in Belgium and the Netherlands meant more Spanish friends and family could travel to watch.
That created some special moments – particularly around the biggest matches of the tournament.
For Marc, India and Europe provided two very different World Cup experiences, but both demonstrated just how special hockey can be when it is played in front of a passionate crowd.
The Match That Changed Spain's World Cup
Not every successful tournament starts perfectly.
Spain had a difficult match against Ireland before entering the next phase of the competition without necessarily feeling they had produced their best hockey.
Then came Germany.
Marc believes that victory gave the Spanish team a major boost.
With the tournament format making every match in the next phase feel almost like a final, beating Germany gave the group confidence and energy for what came next.
From there, every match carried enormous pressure.
But Spain continued progressing.
It's a useful reminder that tournament hockey isn't always about playing your best hockey from the opening whistle.
Sometimes it's about finding a way through the difficult moments and building momentum at the right time.
Marc Reyné's Hockey Stick Setup
Of course, this is Total Hockey.
So we had to talk equipment.
Marc previously played with Osaka before moving to Gryphon, a switch he says he has been extremely happy with.
His current stick is something close to a pro bow.
It isn't an extremely aggressive drag-flicking shape, but it still has enough bow lower down the stick to help him with his attacking game.
As a forward, Marc likes a relatively light stick.
He wants something that allows him to be skilful inside the circle, lift the ball and move his hands quickly, while still having enough weight and power lower down the stick when shooting.
It's another good example of why choosing a hockey stick isn't simply about selecting the highest specification available.
The important question is:
Does the stick suit the way you play?
Marc has even adapted his grip setup to suit his preferences.
He uses the standard grip, adds some tape towards the top of the handle to create extra thickness and then adds an overgrip.
It's a small detail, but one that shows how personal equipment can become at the highest level.
Do Hockey Forwards Always Need Maximum Power?
One of the most interesting parts of our conversation came when we talked about shooting.
Marc describes himself as an intense player.
His instinct has often been to attack everything at full speed and try to shoot at what he jokingly describes as 110%.
But he is learning that maximum power isn't always the best option.
Sometimes a 70% shot that hits the ball cleanly and reaches the target is far more dangerous than a 100% effort that flies wide.
At international level, that becomes incredibly important.
A striker might only receive one clear opportunity in an entire match.
If you try to smash that opportunity at maximum power and miss the goal, the chance is gone.
Instead, Marc is working on remaining calmer, finding the sweet spot and making sure the goalkeeper has a problem to solve.
And if the goalkeeper saves it?
There could still be a rebound.
It's a brilliant lesson for developing players.
Harder doesn't automatically mean better.
Power is useful.
But power without accuracy isn't necessarily going to score goals.
What Makes an Elite Hockey Forward?
We asked Marc what separates a good forward from a top international forward.
You might expect the answer to be finishing.
Or speed.
Or 3D skills.
His first answer was actually defending.
Marc believes forwards have an enormous responsibility when their team doesn't have the ball.
They are the first line of defence.
A forward can pressure defenders, close passing options, force mistakes and set the intensity for the players behind them.
Marc has developed with that defensive mentality throughout his career, and it remains an important part of his role with Spain.
Of course, you still need attacking quality.
Inside the circle, one of the biggest differences is how quickly a top forward can turn a reception into a shot.
The best players don't necessarily need multiple touches to organise themselves.
They can receive and create a shooting opportunity almost immediately.
Marc also highlights another hugely valuable skill for forwards:
winning penalty corners.
A striker capable of consistently creating two or three penalty corners in a match can have a massive impact on the team without necessarily appearing on the scoresheet.
Being an elite forward is about much more than scoring goals.
Learn to Receive the Ugly Ball
Every young hockey player loves practising with the perfect pass.
Flat.
Accurate.
Straight onto the stick.
Unfortunately, forwards don't receive many of those inside the circle.
The ball might bounce.
It might deflect off a defender.
It could arrive at an awkward height.
Or it might be fired into the circle at speed.
Marc believes the ability to receive these difficult balls is incredibly important.
If a forward can control an awkward pass that another player might lose, they have immediately created another problem for the defence.
That's why one of Marc's preferred training exercises involves deliberately receiving difficult, bouncing balls and trying to turn that reception quickly into a shot.
Don't just practise the perfect pass.
Practise the ball you're actually going to receive in a match.
Marc Reyné's Training Advice for Hockey Forwards
Marc shared several interesting ideas from the striker-specific sessions he does at club level.
One is working on movement and communication between forwards inside the circle.
If one forward attacks the baseline, where should the other two go?
Who attacks the front post?
Who moves towards the back post?
What does each player normally do when they receive the ball in a particular position?
Those movements become much easier when forwards understand each other's habits.
Another area they work on is the extra pass inside the circle.
Marc explained that the data available to players shows how effective an additional pass inside the D can be.
It isn't always easy.
The circle is crowded, defenders are close and everything happens quickly.
But when the opportunity is there, one extra pass can completely change the quality of the scoring opportunity.
And that brings everything back to something very simple:
communication.
The better forwards understand each other, the easier those decisions become.
How Do You Become an International Hockey Player?
Marc's route into international hockey began in Barcelona.
Growing up close to Terrassa meant he was surrounded by a strong hockey environment and regularly competed against good teams.
He progressed through his club age groups before eventually playing senior hockey alongside experienced international players.
He also went through the Spanish junior international pathway.
But Marc is very clear about something:
There isn't one correct pathway.
Some players progress through every age-group national team.
Others don't.
Some develop quickly.
Others take longer.
His advice to young players is therefore refreshingly simple.
Enjoy hockey.
Enjoy playing with your friends.
Develop year by year.
And don't spend your entire childhood comparing your progress with somebody else's.
Don't Put Too Much Pressure on Young Hockey Players
Marc also had an important message for parents.
Don't make everything about performance.
He has seen extremely talented 16-year-olds receive huge amounts of attention and pressure, only to eventually become exhausted and leave hockey altogether.
Young players don't need to become international players immediately.
They need the opportunity to enjoy the sport.
Development takes time.
Players mature at different speeds, and Marc believes allowing young players to follow their own journey is much healthier than constantly comparing them with somebody beside them.
For parents, coaches and young players, it's one of the most important messages from the entire conversation:
Enjoy what you're doing first.
Moving from Spanish Hockey to Belgium
Marc spent much of his hockey life with Real Club de Polo in Barcelona before eventually deciding that he wanted to experience hockey abroad.
That took him to Belgium and Braxgata.
And the differences were noticeable.
Marc explains that Spanish hockey traditionally has a strong connection between players and their clubs.
Players can grow up at one club and remain there for years.
Belgian hockey has a much more active transfer culture.
There is also greater depth across the league.
Marc believes a large number of Belgian teams are capable of beating each other, making every weekend extremely competitive.
There are practical differences too.
In Spain, away matches can involve extremely long journeys across the country.
In Belgium, clubs are much closer together.
