JOHN Jackson has become the latest Rio Olympian to leave Reading Hockey Club, writes Dave Wright.

The Ireland defender is moving to Bath, where he is set to start a new teaching job.

Also on his way is skipper Chris Newman, who is heading to Germany to play for Alster next season.

The Blues have already lost Great Britain stars Kate and Helen Richardson-Walsh to Dutch club Bloemendaal, while Alex Danson, who did not play a club game at all last season, is also unlikely to return to Sonning Lane for the 2016-17 season starting in September.

Helen scored twice and set up another goal for Sophie Bray as GB defeated Spain 4-0 in a training game at Bisham last Thursday.

The two sides had also met on Wednesday when Danson netted the third goal in a 3-0 success.

A further blow for Reading is that Susie Gilbert, who just failed to make the GB squad for Rio, is going travelling later this year as far as New Zealand and will not be around until the second half of the season.

Even then, she has still to confirm whether she will return to play for Reading.

Midfielder Gilbert was said to be bitterly disappointed not to have made the 16-strong squad for the Olympics, especially as her partner Nick Catlin, the former Reading player, is in the GB men’s team.

In addition to the Richardson-Walsh duo, at least two of their international team-mates are moving abroad to play club hockey and others, including Danson, may decide to follow.

It will almost certainly mean the Investec Women’s League becoming less competitive, but will give clubs like Reading the opportunity to bring through some of the talented youngsters, particularly those involved with the England age-group squads.

Men’s head coach Andy Watts said he will be bringing in new players to strength his squad.

Reading’s Simon Mantell, one of GB’s travelling reserves for the Olympics, scored two late goals as GB hit back to draw 2-2 draw with Belgium in a four-nation tournament in Dusseldorf last Sunday.

GB, whose squad also included Dan Shingles from Reading, had earlier drawn 1-1 with hosts Germany, a game that Mantell missed, and defeated Holland 3-0.