IN naming his training panel to prepare for the next stage of the World Cup in Kuala Lumpur in March, Ireland coach Cees Koppelaar has added six players to the squad which qualified so handsomely in the initial tournament in Cagliari in October.

Joining the successful 16 are goal keepers Nigel Henderson and Wesley Bateman and outfield candidates Paul Hollway, JP Murphy, Francis de Rosa and Mark Irwin.

The versatile Hollway (60 caps), who figured in the European Championship in Dublin last year, returns to the reckoning after missing the action in Cagliari because of an ankle operation. His young Instonians team-mate, front runner Mark Irwin, has played twice at international level in build-up matches.

The Avoca stalwart, Murphy, is uncapped, as is the Pembroke defender, de Rosa, who, however, has played for the Ireland under-18 and under-21 sides. Both excelled in the interprovincial championship when Leinster regained the title at Blaris earlier this month.

Henderson also distinguished himself in goal, particularly against Ulster, and with Raymond Geddis of Lisnagarvey again unavailable for business reasons, the Pembroke goalkeeper may yet earn an international call-up. Wesley Bateman is included, too, as he is known to be an apprentice of much agility to his brother, Ivan (Europe's number one).

Except for the quarter-finals of the Irish Senior Cup on January 11th (when notably Lisnagarvey and Banbridge will be involved), no members of the training squad will be available for their clubs from January 1st.

After Avoca have tackled Three Rock Rovers in the Leinster Senior League on December 28th, Peter Darley, Colin Hade, Robbie Ryan and Galahad Goulet (both recovering from injury) and JP Murphy must depend on their club mates to challenge Rovers for the title.