Hockey Perspectives

Brothers Playing in the 2023 Men’s Hockey World Cup

There are as many as five pair of brothers representing their respective nations in the 2023 Men’s Hockey World Cup – the only striking difference among the five pair of brothers is that the brother duo of Jeremy Hawyard and Leon Hayward are representing Australia and New Zealand respectively in the marquee event.

Jeremy Hayward (Australia) & Leon Hayward (New Zealand)

Jeremy Hayward is one of the experienced drag-flickers of the Australian men’s hockey team – the 29-year-old defender, who has close to 100 international goals is the younger of the two Hayward brothers and plays club hockey for Tassie Tigers in Hockey One. His elder brother Leon Hayward is a goalkeeper who plays for (New Zealand) – at the 2021 Tokyo Olympics both brothers competed against each other, where Australia pipped New Zealand 4-2 – he is three senior to Jeremy.

Pau Cunill

Pau Cunill & Pepe Cunill (Spain)

Pau Cunill is a handy drag-flicking defender of the Spain men’s hockey team and is the elder of the Cunill brothers. The 23-year-old is considered as one bright prospects of the Spanish deep defence – his younger brother Pepe Cunill who is aged 21, is a midfielder who overlaps upfront. Both brothers play club hockey for Atletic Terrassa.

Mats Grambusch & Tom Grambusch (Germany)

Mats Grambusch brings so much to the German men’s hockey team – an attacking midfiedler he is the elder of the Grambusch brothers having made close to 200 internationals for the Honamas. His 27-year-old younger brother Tom Grambusch is a lethal defender and drag-flicker who provides useful option besides the drag-flicking duo of Gonzallo Peillat and Lukas Windfeder. The Grambusch brothers play club hockey for Rot-Weiss Köln.

Dayaan & Mustaphaa Cassiem (South Africa)

Dayaan Cassiem is the captain of the South African men’s hockey team – he is lively forward who can knock the stuffing out of the opposition. The 24-year-old, who made more than 70 international appearances, plays club hockey for Gladbacher HTC. His younger brother Mustaphaa Cassiem aged 20, is a also a forward and both are key guys in their forwardline.

Gareth & Rhodri Furlong (Wales)

Gareth Furlong is Wales’s go-to-man when it comes to taking penalty corners – the 30-year-old has one of the top goal-scorers in 2022 and is famously remembered for his hat-trick against India at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. The defender, who plays club hockey for Surbito, has an impressive goal-scoring ratio – 89 goals from 140 internationals. His younger brother Rhodri Furlong aged 27, is also a defender and both complement each other in the Wales deep defence.