Ireland face old foe

After easing their way back in to competitive hockey, after a year's break, in three training games against Scotland last weekend, the Irish team faces a significantly more difficult task this weekend when they take on England in Belfast and Blaris in two full internationals.

Coach Riet Kuper has named three uncapped players in her 19-strong squad - Ciara O'Brien (UCD), Jenny McDonagh (Newcastle University) and Nikki King (Pembroke Wanderers) - with Pamela Magill (Pegasus) and Cathy McKean (Loreto) the only other new faces from the panel that was selected for last year's Olympic Qualifier.

Rachel Kohler, with 110 caps already to her name, succeeds Mary Logue as captain and will hope for a happier outcome from tomorrow and Sunday's games than the last time the teams met in a competitive fixture, when England won 5-0 at the 1999 European finals.

Experienced internationals of the calibre of Tina Cullen, Denise MarstonSmith, Mandy Nicholson and Jane Smith feature in a strong English squad chosen by coach Tricia Heberle, who has included just two uncapped players.

Next in the calendar for Ireland is a week's trip to Lithuania (July 21st-28th) where they play the hosts in two friendlies and two full internationals. In August the squad will travel to Holland during the Champions' Trophy where they hope to play some of the competing teams, including England.

IRISH SQUAD (v England, June 16-17th) A Boyles, K Humphreys, C McMahon, P Magill (all Pegasus), L Brown (Sutton Coldfield), T Browne, J Burke, C Carey, D Sixsmith (all Hermes), L Caulfield (Trinity), N King (Pembroke Wanderers), J McDonagh (Newcastle Univ/Belfast Harlequins), C McKean (Loreto), A Platt (Ballymoney), C O'Brien (UCD), R Kohler (capt), K [R O] O'Brien (both Cork Harlequins), J Orbinson (Portadown), S Parkhill (Grange Edinburgh).