The England team for the Four Nations Tennis Championship at the Sundays Well Club in Cork, starting this morning, will be hoping to resume where they left off, as winners in Cardiff in 1996. The competition was cancelled last year due to the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Ireland were close runners-up in Cardiff, but changed circumstances since then give rise to hopes for an even better result with Owen Casey and John Doran having the potential to realise a high success rate. Gina Niland and Lesley O'Halloran carry the hopes of the Ireland women's team. England's number one Mandy Wainwright poses the main threat for Niland, while Alex Napier may not worry Lesley O'Halloran unduly.

The under 18 internationals will also go ahead at Sundays Well, with the under-14s at the Tennis Village.

IRELAND UNDER-18: Conor Niland, David O'Connell, Catherine Lynch and Dearbhla Kelly. UNDER-14: Steven O'Connor, Robert Kernan, Rachel Halligan, Clodagh McMorrow.