Surbiton’s seven current internationals hoping for European action this August have all been in recent action for their respective home countries.

The Long Ditton-based club’s five England players each appeared in one of two friendly games against France (for which caps were not awarded) at the National Sports Centre in Bisham Abbey near Marlow last week.

Defender Richard Alexander and attacker James Tindall were both in the 16-man squad that posted a 5-0 victory in the opening fixture on the Tuesday afternoon (23 June) after leading 2-0 at the interval, although neither was on the scoresheet.

The other three Surbiton players – forward Matt Daly, midfielder Rob Moore and defender Ben Hawes – were in the 18-man squad that lost 2-3 on Wednesday afternoon. Moore (open play, 16th minute) and Daly (penalty corner, 33rd minute) were on target to make the score 2-2 at the interval.

But France, ranked 17th in the world and sixth in Europe, went on to score a shock second-half winner against their hosts, who are ranked seventh in the world and fourth in Europe.

England, with Surbiton’s five players making up the second most from any one club in the country’s 30-stromg training squad, continued their preparations for the EuroHockey Nations Championship in Amsterdam from 22-30 August at Cannock Hockey Club against Pakistan this week.

They beat the Asians, world-ranked one higher than them, 4-3 in a friendly on Monday afternoon with only Alexander and Daly in the 19-man uncapped squad, but lost the First Test 1-2 on Tuesday evening with all five Surbiton players among the 16-man squad winning caps.

The two remaining Tests were due to be played yesterday and today (Friday) evenings (both at 7pm).

Meantime, Surbiton’s other two current internationals had been engaged in the Celtic Cup played in Edinburgh over the past weekend: Allan Dick of Scotland (ranked 23rd in the world and 10th in Europe) and Andy Cornick of Wales (ranked 30th in the world and 15th in Europe). Both hope to retain their places in their respective squads for the second-tier EuroHockey Nations Trophy, to be hosted by Wales in Wrexham from 1 to 8 August.

Scotland scored a final-minute equaliser from a short corner to draw 3-3 with Ireland in the last game of the tournament on Sunday. But having drawn 1-1 with Wales on Friday it was only enough for them to finish second to their opponents, despite having beaten France 3-2 on Saturday.

Wales also lost 2-3 to Ireland on Saturday and France on Sunday to finish bottom of the four competing countries. Eventual champions Ireland beat France 3-1 on Friday in the tournament’s opening game.