Irish Hockey Secures Hosting of Hockey Champions Challenge I

Irish Hockey are proud to announce that they have been awarded the hosting of the Hockey Champions Challenge I. The tournament brings some of the world's most exciting hockey nations to our shores from September 29th through to October 7th where Ireland will compete against Australia, Belgium, India, Scotland, Spain, South Africa and the United States.

The tournament is comprised of two pools of four and offers valuable world ranking points and promotion for one team into the Hockey Champions Trophy. The tournament was originally heading elsewhere but due to logistics the FIH put it out to tender and Ireland's bid secured the high profile world event.

Commenting on the impending event Chief Executive Angus Kirkland said "After the withdrawal of the previously designated host the IHA is delighted to have been awarded this prestigious event. The event allows us to build on the profile generated from the Electric Ireland FIH Road To London, hosted in March and being in season we look forward to welcoming hockey fans to the National Stadium in UCD. With four Olympic teams it will be a superb showcase of top class hockey and it provides a wonderful opportunity for our team to showcase their talents to a home audience. "

Director of High Performance Dave Passmore was also looking forward to the event "We are delighted to be hosting this event building on the success and broader benefit of the hosting of the Men's Electric Ireland FIH Road To London this year. With such a high standard of opposition, coming so soon after the London Olympics this should be an exciting and high quality event. Falling at the start of the club season our ladies will be keen to replicate the form they showed going into the OQT final in March and demonstrate some fast flowing hockey for the Irish public."

World Rankings

• Australia 7
• USA 10
• Spain 11
• South Africa 12
• India 13
• Ireland 14
• Belgium 16
• Scotland 18