Ireland open Challenge II campaign against Chile

MEN'S HOCKEY:IRELAND WILL face Chile, Japan and Poland when they host the international Men's Champions Challenge II in Dublin this July.

The event, which is a new FIH world level tournament featuring the best teams that did not qualify for the elite Champions Trophy or the Champions Challenge, is to be staged at Belfield from July 6th-12th.

It will be South African coach Paul Revington’s first multi-nation championship with Ireland and it is likely a new-look team will be on show. Revington has brought a number of new faces into the squad and it is expected some of those will filter into the positions left vacant by retiring players.

Eight teams are participating, with Ireland in Pool One and Malaysia, France, Russia and Austria in Pool Two. Ireland have been scheduled for three evening games in the hope of attracting home support. First up for the Irish, whose focus will ultimately sharpen on qualifying for the 2012 Olympic Games in London, are Chile at 7.45pm on July 6th. They then face Japan at 8pm on July 7th before earning a rest day. The final pool match will be against Poland on July 9th at 7.45pm.

Japan, ranked at 11 in the world, are expected to be the toughest of the pool matches. They are the highest ranked team in the competition. Poland are ranked at 20 and Chile 27, with Ireland at 18.

In Pool Two, Malaysia are the top-ranked side with a ranking of 15, with France at 17. Austria are placed at 22 and Russia 25.

CHAMPIONS CHALLENGE II:July 6th: Ireland v Chile, Belfield 7.45pm; July 7th: Ireland v Japan, Belfield 8pm; July 9th: Ireland v Poland, Belfield 7.45pm.