HOCKEY Irish Hockey To Host The Inaugural Champions Challenge II

The Irish Hockey Association are delighted to announce that they have been awarded the honour of hosting the FIH's inaugural Champions Challenge II this coming July. This competition will see some exciting teams descend on the National Hockey Stadium in Dublin during the 6h - 12th July. The tournament which is made up of eight teams in total, two groups of four with four crossovers, offers nations the opportunity to secure much coveted world ranking points.


Commenting on the tournament was High Performance Director Dave Passmore "The opposition that this tournament brings to the national stadium provides a wide and varied range of playing styles from the skilful Malaysians, the powerful and pacey Japanese and the fast improving Russians. This will provide great entertainment for spectators and ideal preparation for the Ireland team. The tournament is well timed in relation to the European tournament'"


The tournament will be made up of the Japanese who enter the tournament as the highest ranked team in the world at number 12, followed by the full time professional squad of Malaysia ranked 15th, France are in ranked 17th, Ireland are officially 4th in this tournament with a world ranking of 18, Poland who were recently promoted from the Champions Trophy in 2007 are right behind the boys in green at 19th, while Austria, Chile and the ever improving Russians make up the rest of the entries at 21st, 24th and 25th in the world respectively.


It is a great honour for Ireland to have the opportunity to play hosts to seven other nations during this tournament something that Chief Executive Angus Kirkland was keen to express "The Irish Hockey Association is delighted to have been awarded the inaugural Men's Champions Challenge II competition by the World Hockey Federation (FIH). This follows on the back of successful major Championships hosted previously by the IHA such as the Women's World Cup and Men's Euro Nations. As a World Ranking event it provides our Men's National Team an opportunity to go head to head with some quality opposition in front of a home crowd. The timing is also ideal as it will act as a springboard for the EuroNations competition a month later. We look forward to welcoming hockey players from around the world and fans from across the country."


Ireland's Women's team will have to travel a little further than their male counterparts when they set off for Kazan, Russia to compete in the same tournament from 21st - 27th June. Ireland will compete against Belgium, Canada, Chile, India, Russia, Ukraine and TBC.


Due to the busy schedule of both Senior Teams this summer including the Celtic Cup, Champions Challenge II and the European Nations Championship / Trophy, Irish hockey will not be hosting the Setanta Sports Trophy this year.


The Men's Champions Challenge II tournament will take place at the National Hockey Stadium between the 6th - 12th July and the match schedule will be available shortly on www.hockey.ie as will tickets which can be pre purchased online.