Spanish giants Terrassa knew exactly where to look when seeking to bolster their squad for next season – they turned to GB!

Yes, the stock of our players has risen to such an extent in recent months that Lancaster’s Scott Carpenter and Rob Parker, of Cheltenham, will be heading for Catalonia in August.

Both will still turn out for GB in European qualifying games and in the Commonwealth Games in October, but Terrassa will be the new focus for their club polo until June of next year. In particular, both look forward to competing in Spanish colours in the Euro League.

Scott and Rob began the countdown to London 2012 by playing in Australia earlier this year. The goal-scoring feats of Scott helped Victoria Tigers clinch a first national title in 18 years. Rob impressed with the University of New South Wales Magpies.

Rob  is already familiar with the high quality of his new team-mates, having played for Cheltenham when they were on the wrong end of a 20-goal hammering by Terrassa.

“I was a bit younger at the time and was just amazed at the standard of the players. They absolutely thrashed us – I never thought I would be playing with them, so to have got a contract is amazing.”

Rob believes that GB men are making great strides. “There is obviously a long time between now and London but with a lot of the players now playing in Europe – plus the good results we had last year – I am feeling really confident about the Games.”

Scott and Rob are good mates – and will be helping each other learn the Spanish language!

Said Scott: “I’m really excited at the prospect of testing myself against the best players in the world. It is a fabulous opportunity for British players to show what we can do on the European stage.”

Both players acknowledge the benefits of UK National League experience from a young age. In 2006, Scott became the first player in the NWPL top division to score 100 goals in a season, repeating the feat the following year. Back in 1986, his father, George, was the first player in any NWPL division to amass a ton of goals in one campaign – for Durham.