Passmore without key players for SA tour

Men's Hockey Round-upOnce again the Irish men's team has been affected by the unavailability of key players. As the sport tries to become increasingly professional, demands on the time of amateur players has again come into focus, with both Stephen Butler and Ian Lewers unavailable for the Irish squad trip to South Africa next month.

As the men continue their build-up towards the European Nations Championships next August in Manchester, senior coach Dave Passmore this week announced his squad for the 10-day camp, as well as two Test matches against Spain and South Africa.

Lewers is unavailable because of exams, while Butler, who won the player-of-the-tournament award 18 months ago, when Ireland won the European Nations Trophy in Rome, can attend only half the trip because of work commitments.

"This will be a gruelling tour and will help develop the resilience within the squad," said Passmore. "The focus will be on developing the group technically, tactically and physically, with three sessions on most days. We have chosen to take a large group to develop both in the short and medium term, but there are many younger players there on merit and with a chance of featuring next summer."

The squad will play two matches, the first against the host nation and the second against Spain, who are also taking advantage of South Africa's January climate. That match will be an important indicator of just where Ireland are in their preparation, as they have been drawn to face Spain on August 19th in the first pool match of their European Championship campaign.

But coach Passmore will read little into the result against the Spanish.

"While it is pleasing to have two quality matches, these will not be the primary focus of the tour and will not affect the intensity at which we train, which may mean we go into the games tired," he said.

IRELAND SQUAD: A Barbour (Cookstown), J Black (Cork Harlequins), M Black (Cork Harlequins), P Brown (Instonians), K Burns (Cork C of I), S Butler (Glenanne), T Cockram (Loughborough), M Gleghorne (Loughborough), R Gormley (Pembroke), D Harte (Pembroke), C Henderson (Corinthians), D Hobbs (Cork C of I), M Irwin (Instonians), J Jermyn (Cork C of I), G Lennox (Banbridge), E Magee (Banbridge), P Maguire (HGC Holland), G McCabe (Banbridge), M Ruddle (Cork C of I), G Shaw (Glenanne), M Watt (Grange, Scotland).

DEVELOPMENT SQUAD: C Harte (Pembroke), T Lewis (Pembroke), S Redpath (Annadale)

STAFF: D Passmore (Head Coach); P Jackson (Manager); C Fulton (Assistant Coach); S Murphy (Physiotherapy); S Barry (Conditioning); P Moore (Psychology).

MATCH SCHEDULE: January 10th: Ireland v South Africa, Potchestrom, (6pm local time). January 14th: Ireland v Spain, Potchestrom, (6pm local time).