Coach Paul Revington has announced his 18 for the FIH Champions Challenge II taking place from July 2nd – 10th in Lille, France.
The competition which comprises of eight teams is split into two preliminary round groups for three-days of round robin action. Ireland has been drawn in pool B against France, Russia and Scotland while pool A pits China; USA; Austria and the Czech Republic against each other. The top ranked teams from each pool will take on the fourth-rank teams, while number two and number three will also face-off. The winners from the cross over games will move onto the semi-finals and medal games, while the losers will continue to play for places five to eight.
Over the nine days Ireland will play six games and come into this tournament ranked once place behind France as third seeds. China are the highest ranked team in this tournament (world no 14).
Revington has had ample opportunity to assess players on the international stage having just completed the, UCD 4 Nations prior to his selection as well as more recent mid week matches against China and Egypt as they continue to build towards the European Nations Cup taking place in Germany at the end of the Summer, an Olympic Qualifying event (top 3 can gain qualification). Revington who has relied on the strength and depth of a large pool of talented players over the last few internationals commented “The Champions Challenge II event provides our squad with another great opportunity to test our depth of quality inside a few weeks. As a squad we are fortunate to be able to absorb the absence of various players who cannot take continual leave from work as well as affording us an opportunity to rest various players after two prior events and lengthy training camps. This team will take a good degree of momentum with them into the Challenge II and we will expect to make continual improvements through every game.”
The senior squad have started to produce player articles and available on their senior page by clicking here
FIH Champions Challenge II SQUAD
Lille, France
David Ames Beeston
Peter Blakeney Three Rock Rovers
Joe Brennan Glenanne
Chris Cargo Reading
Peter Caruth Annadale
David Fitzgerald Monkstown
Alan Giles Pembroke Wanderers
Paul Gleghorne Instonians
Ronan Gormley Club de Campo (C)
Conor Harte SCHC
David Harte SCHC
John Jackson Mossley
Stuart Loughrey Loughborough
Eugene Magee Dragons
Geoff McCabe Santander
Andy McConnell Hurley
Gareth Watkins Monkstown
Michael Watt Santander
Coach Paul Revington
Asst Coach Arul Anthoni
Manager Peter Jackson
Physio David Richards
S&C/Video Jonny Caren
Video Tristan Seaton-Stedham
FIH Champions Challenge 2 2011
Men, Lille (France) 2 / 10 July 2011
Pool A: China, United States, Austria, Czech Republic
Pool B: France, Ireland, Russia , Scotland