IHA chief executive Angus Kirkland this week informed branch representatives that one men’s and one women’s interpro competition will be held on March 26 and 27.

All players over the age of 18 will be eligible for selection, effectively meaning the senior and U-21 events have been amalgamated.

The decision follows a consultation process between the interpro working group, which was comprised of national and provincial branch representatives, and national coaches Paul Revington and Gene Muller.

The IHA’s high performance working group has also been tasked with finding a fourth team to compete in the men’s event, in line with recommendations made by Revington earlier this year.

The South African wishes to create a proper “tournament environment” to create a realistic “consistency of performance”. The identity of a fourth side has yet to be confirmed, but candidates could include the Irish U-18 side or a foreign club/representative/invitational outfit.

Revington also wants interpro squads to be picked at least three months in advance of the tournament, though his desire for 20-24 hour rest periods between games looks impossible to achieve at a two-day tournament.

Initial discussions had pointed towards the formation of a new U-23 tournament to replace the senior and U-21 formats but, in a letter circulated to the interpro working group, Kirkland outlined the decision taken following an IHA board meeting on Sunday.

“I am sure you will appreciate that this has been debated long and hard by the interpro working group, national coaches and the board, and with the varying views around the groups arriving at a solution that suits everyone just has not been possible – however having taken into accounts all viewpoints the board believe this to be the best way forward for this season,” Kirkland wrote.

Revington and Muller will determine the availability of international players for selection.

The 20 year-old drag-flick expert – with three goals from five international appearances to date – joins the side who finished 10th in last season’s BMW Hockey League.

For this season, though, the club have invested in the talents of former Rotterdam talisman, Phil Burrows from New Zealand, along with Dutchman Marcel Koeton who makes the short hop across the border from Tilburg.

Braxgata begin their season on September 12 against Pingouin while September 26 is a date for Doherty to look forward to, meeting Dragons and their quartet of Irishmen.

Glenanne’s return trip is once again filled with sharks, swapping the surrounds of Polo for Terrassa for this year’s jaunt on October 29 to 31.

Graham Shaw’s side will have revenge on their minds against Poland’s Grunwald Poznan who overcame a listless Glens 6-1 last year, a side drained of energy after a huge effort against UHC Hamburg.

And they face German opposition once more, this time in the form of debutants Mannheimer HC – the new club of German superstar Matthias Witthaus.

Jamie Dwyer, though, was due to join Mannheimer but late Euro registration meant he missed the deadline and will now no longer not link up.

Pembroke, as one of eight first seeds, picked up a mixed bag for their third EHL campaign. They will play the tournament’s second lowest ranked side Kolos Sekvoia from Ukraine but they come with a good record against Irish sides, beating Glenanne 4-2 back in 2008.

HGC – beaten finalists in 2008 when John Jermyn and Iain Lewers were in their ranks – will be the group’s second seeds and are a side packed with top international talent.

The Hague-based club have seen English players Barry Middleton and Ashley Jackson move back to their homeland but have brought in the likes of Australia’s Brent Dancer, Argentina’s Rodrigo and Lucas Vila while coach Jorge Dabanch Silva moves to Holland from Barcelona.

Playing on October 15 to 17, Pembroke might have preferred the later of the two dates to give their new look side more time to bed in.

Of the other Irish involved, Ronan Gormley can meet up with old club mates in Eindhoven when Club de Campo play Rot-Weiss Koln and Racing Club de Bruxelles.

Dragons – with their quartet of Irish players – play reigning champions UHC but will target Izmaylovo Moscow.

David Ames’ Beeston – who visit Dublin next week to face Pembroke and Glenanne – face hosts Atletic Terrassa and France’s CA Montrouge while Chris Cargo at Reading have Belarus’ Stroitel Brest and 2009 winners Bloemendaal.

Finally, Ian Horsfield’s second EHL outing with Kelburne is a really tough one. They play Polo de Barcelona and East Grinstead, now with Ashley Jackson in tow.

The Scots, though, have the small mercy – along with the English sides – of an extra two weeks to work together after several of their players compete at the Commonwealth Games.

October 15-17 (Eindhoven, Netherlands):
Group F: Pembroke, HGC (Ned), Olympia Kolos Sekvoia (Ukr)
Group B: Rot-Weiss Koln (Ger), Club de Campo Madrid (Esp), RC Bruxelles (Bel)
Group E: KHC Dragons (Bel), UHC Hamburg (Ger), Izmaylovo Moscow (Rus)
Group H: Dinamo Kazan (Rus), Oranje Zwart (Ned), KS Pomorzanin Torun (Pol)

October 29-31 (Terrassa, Spain):
Group G: WKS Grunwald Poznan (Pol), Mannheimer HC (Ger), Glenanne
Group A: Bloemendaal (Ned), Reading (Eng), SC Stroitel Brest (Blr)
Group C: Atletic Terrassa (Esp), Beeston (Eng), CA Montrouge (Fra)
Group D: East Grinstead (Eng), RC Polo de Barcelona (Esp), Kelburne (Sco)

Stick for India is a project founded and driven by Spanish internationals Andreu Enrich and Santi Freixa since 2005 and forms part of the Vicente Ferrer Foundation.

The group’s aim is to use the sport as a social development tool for the children in Anantapur, one of the poorest regions in India, giving them the benefits of teamwork, a healthy life, empathy, emotional intelligence and training sacrifices.

After three years of continuous work in the district, more than 600 boys and girls are enjoying the sport in their lives. We have sponsored schools, organized hockey camps, coached Indian trainers, created a hockey academy and improved sport infrastructures of the local centers.

McInroy linked up with the Spaniards this summer to help with the programme and bore witness to what he called their “amazing work”.

“I saw the impact this foundation is having in Anantapur with my own eyes, and met some amazing Indian children as well as volunteers (mainly from Spain) during my time living on the FVF campus.

The hockey academy as it stands comprises of 20 girls players and 30 boys chosen from the rural area and its surrounds, along with two full time Indian hockey coaches. The girl’s academy is only a recent development and the kids range from age 11 -17.

And its effects, McInroy says has been impressibe: “It was incredible to think that most of these girls had only been playing hockey for two months! These kids really could play and the benefit of four hours training per day, six days a week was plain to see!

“I don’t know many international hockey players who train this much, and if they ever do, the amount of complaining would be crazy. Not these kids! Their desire to learn and make the most out of every opportunity that presents itself is truly inspirational and energising.

“There is also a strong level of planning in their weekly programs to ensure they do not burn out; often playing other ‘fun’ alternate sports to change things up and develop other skills, strictly resting players when they are tired or sick, continually trying new things to keep their learning fresh.

“I really was impressed to see the effort and thought that goes in, and of course the kids also benefit from the various international players – like Santi, Andreu and Quico Cortes who were there at the same time as me – that spend time at the academy when their schedule allows it which is crucial in developing the players and coaches with the latest ideas from further afield. And certainly it sparks much excitement amongst everyone to do with the project.”

One of the aims of the academy is to develop future Indian hockey stars and its next big drive is to lay an Astroturf for the academy.

McInroy continues: “Having seen the level of the children I have no doubt we will see an Indian international player from Stick for India in the not too distant future.

“However, the more far reaching impact for these kids and overarching goal for the project, is to provide these rural Indian children with a sound base to believe they can achieve something in their lives.

“The kids here are educated through the academy and have strict academic expectations they must meet, and living, eating, learning, playing a team sport together really gives them the opportunity to learn some valuable life lessons that will serve them well in the future.

“Some of these children are not even guaranteed three meals a day in their family homes, so this, together with their attitudes really makes you see how special this project is.”

** To find out more, go to www.facebook.com/stickforindia while you can read more of McInroy’s blog about his time in India at his Red Sock Friday site.

The incident led to the suspension of Richard Malone and Una McCarthy for the fifth and sixth place playoff between Ireland ’s U-17 girls and South Africa on August 22.

And – as outlined in the FIH ’s official report – the case has also been referred to the the FIH Hon. Secretary General of FIH for further consideration by the Judicial Commission.

In a statement to the Hook from the IHA, they confirmed “The Irish Hockey Association are reviewing the situation internally with the parties involved. Until the process has been completed we cannot make a comment on the situation”.

The IHA review is likely to take place next week with a statement on the matter to be released once complete.

** As the review process is ongoing, comments may be restricted until the review is completed

*** Dublin University are looking for a new manager for the upcoming season to work with head coach Niall Denham. Training takes place at Grange Road twice a week with home matches on Saturday also played there.

The club is aiming to gain automatic promotion to Leinster men’s division one. If interested, contact Craig on 0868070715 or email me at cgmoore@tcd.ie.

*** Rathdown School have appointed Graham Shaw as their Director of Hockey with the remit to “improve performance of teams coupled with an overall increased enjoyment of students taking part in the sport”.

In welcoming Shaw, the Principal Mrs Anne Dowling commented: “We are thrilled that such a highly rated player/coach has committed to Rathdown School.

“I wish him every success and look forward to his continued success with this new appointment.

“I am sure that he will continue to build on the many achievements of our hockey teams and spur them on to even greater success. We were delighted already with the response to our pre-season training.”

It means the Leinster Division One tasty-looking opening day Leinster division one tie between the Serpentine Avenue club and Glenanne will take an even more new look, when the league tips off on September 25.

Ireland’s EHL entrants have been drawn to face each other at Glenanne Park with coaches Graham Shaw and Brendan Carolan getting a taster for the most enduring rivalry in the province in recent history.

The sides met four times last season with Pembroke edging affairs, winning both league ties as well as taking an incident-packed IHL semi-final with the Glens winning once with a battling 1-0 ISC win at Serpentine Avenue.

Stephen Butler scored the winner with a trademark drag-flick that day to settle the tie but he is also Europe-bound, returning to Dragons in Belgium.

Monkstown play Three Rock in another tasty opening day fixture while Weston play their first ever division one game away to YMCA. Rathgar Chiefs’ first ever game will be against Navan at High School on the same day.

The big league tip-off comes a week after the traditional season Neville Cup opener on September 18 with five ties with three all-division one match-ups: Pembroke vs TRR; Weston vs Fingal and Corinthian vs Railway Union. The U-21 Cup, meanwhile, moves back to its pre-Christmas slot.

Men’s early season fixtures:
Saturday, September 18 (Neville Cup round one): Pembroke Wanderers vs Three Rock Rovers; Weston vs Fingal; Clontarf vs Avoca; Suttonians vs Glenanne; Corinthian vs Railway Union
Byes: Monkstown, UCD, YMCA

Saturday, September 25
Division One: YMCA vs Weston; Corinthian vs UCD; Glenanne vs Pembroke Wanderers; Monkstown vs Three Rock Rovers; Railway Union vs Fingal
Division Two: Bray vs Suttonians; Rathgar Chiefs vs Navan; Clontarf vs Dublin University

Saturday, October 2
Division One: UCD vs YMCA; Pembroke Wanderers vs Weston; Three Rock Rovers vs Corinthian; Fingal vs Glennane; Railway Union vs Monkstown
Division Two: Avoca vs Rathgar Chiefs; Dublin University vs Bray; Navan vs Clontarf

Sunday, October 3
Neville Cup, Round Two

Saturday, October 9:
IHL Round One
Division Two: Suttonians vs Dublin University; Clontarf vs Avoca; Bray vs Navan

Saturday, October 16
EHL Round One
Division One (provisional for Pembroke and Glenanne, dependent on EHL draw): YMCA vs Pembroke Wanderers; UCD vs Three Rock Rovers; Weston vs Fingal; Corinthian vs Railway Union; Glenanne vs Monkstown
Division Two: Rathgar Chiefs vs Clontarf; Navan vs Suttonians; Avoca vs Bray

Sunday, October 17 – Thursday, October 21
Under-21 Cup Round One: Avoca vs Railway; Corinthian vs Dublin University

ASSA was established in 2007, by Irish resident Patrick Maphoso, a native of South Africa. ASSA, sponsors African schools, and is providing sporting gear for children in need, which allows them to participate in School Tournaments. Gilmour sports shop in Ballyogan is the drop-off point for any used hockey sticks, sports gear, football boots and anything else sports related. To find out more about the charity, go to www.assaireland.org

** The Hook has set up a new Facebook page and Twitter account in time for the upcoming hockey season where up-to-the-minute score updates and links to extra hockey material available on the internet will be posted

When Leinster division one and two matches get underway, The Hook will endeavour to post the results as they arrive to my phone while you can feel free to post links to your club’s Facebook page and promote fundraising events, preseason tournaments and everything else in between.

To “Like” the page, click here or hit the Facebook button on the top right of this page. To follow The Hook on Twitter, go to @hookhockey.

** The women’s World Cup is now in full flow in Rosario, Argentina. To follow every game live, click here to see Laola’s excellent coverage or else catch up with all the games gone by in this tournament and the men’s Champion’s Challenge earlier this month.

Shaw worked as the club’s technical trainer for much of last season, working with head coach Orla Bell, and will continue in a similar role while Evans – a Monkstown club captain, first team manager and an IJC winner last season among his prior credits – taking on match-day responsibilities and coaching duties.

Speaking about the appointment, Evans is looking forward to the new challenge: “I’m delighted to get the job and to work with Graham. It’s going to be an exciting year; we have a super team and a great mix of youth and experience.

“I’m hanging up the stick and looking to focus on the coaching side of things.”

Elsewhere, Cliff Bailey will return to Bray where he will take on the coaching reins while UCD have moved for the services of former Fingal men and Bray ladies boss Johnny Harte.

With Justin Sherriff taking on Pembroke, it represents a new breed of first division coaches in their early 30s with Evans, Bailey and Sherriff all taking on first senior postings.

While there, Sothern will link up with Mitch Darling who moved across the Belgian border from KHC Leuven as well as Dutch international Rob Reckers.

They start their campaign on September 12 with a tough away day at EHL-bound HGC but no longer have the services of Barry Middleton at their disposal following a switch to Club an der Alster in Germany.

Former Irish international Mark Gleghorne, meanwhile, moves away from the Dutch club to play in England as part of his three-year process of changing his international status from Irish to English.

It continues a busy summer of international transfers between European clubs, with Irish players getting in on the act with 13 of Paul Revington’s national panel that played at last weekend’s INSEP Five Nations’ event in Paris.

Conor and David Harte will take up residence in the SCHC defense and begin their league programme against EHL finalists Rotterdam.

It will be a slightly changed Rotterdam side, though, with Dutch international star Roderick Weusthof the Harte’s first major challenge following his summer move from SCHC, replacing New Zealander David Burrows.

Andy McConnell is the fifth Dutch-based player, returning to Hurley where he played four seasons ago before winning Irish national titles with Three Rock Rovers and Pembroke. They play in the Overangsklasse, the Dutch second tier of competition.

Phelie Maguire will continue his stay in Belgium with KHC Leuven where he will be joined by Argentinean trio Juane Garreta, Nahuel Salis and Agustin Mazzilli.

Geoff McCabe, Eugene Magee and Mikey Watt will remain at Dragons in Antwerp where they will be joined by Stephen Butler for the club’s first run at the EHL.

Ronan Gormley moves to Club de Campo this week in Madrid while David Ames is another moving to an EHL club, linking up with Nottingham’s Beeston. Chris Cargo stays with Reading for another trip to Europe and a league campaign which tips off on September 19.

Paul Gleghorne and former Pembroke man Stu Loughrey will also make their seasonal bow that day, donning the Loughborough colours against East Grinstead, for whom Ashley Jackson is a big name signing.

John Jackson is the sole member of the panel returning to Ireland, moving back to hometown club Mossley after a spell in England. It leaves just Iain Walker, Joe Brennan, Timmy Cockram, Peter Caruth and Alan Giles from last weekend’s squad as domestically based for the upcoming season.