After several months of hard training the progress of both the Britain men’s and women’s squads were appraised by managers and coaches, who had to trim the squad as part of a planned exercise to keep the World Class Handball Programme on target.

 

“It was a really tough thing to do because so many of the players have improved dramatically,” said World Class Handball Programme manager Lorraine Brown.

 

“But we have to make sure that the national squads are the best of the best, and as part of that we can only move forwards with the players who we think offer us the best chance of progressing in the future.

 

“It’s obviously disappointing to the players who haven’t made the team, but we will help them to continue to develop as handball players and monitor their progress.

 

"They are still very much in with a chance of playing for their country at 2012, and may come back into the side in the future.

 

“Our programme is funded by UK Sport, and as such we have a responsibility to make sure we are running as efficiently as possible, both on the court and off.”

 

In the men’s squad Stuart Campbell, Stuart Clark and Scott Frew have not been included in the 2008 squad, while Aden Woodall, Josh Harrison and Johnnie Howarth have been moved to the 2016 programme.

 

In the women’s team five new players are to join the six existing academy programme players currently based out in Denmark in August.

 

Emma Clarke, Laura O'Mahony and Katherine Fudge have been on an intensive seven-month talent identification and transfer process, while Chloe Lam-Moores and Paige Garvey will join the academy programme following promising junior careers with Haslingden Handball Club.