Ireland promoted back to top flight ahead of new season

The Ireland Senior Men's Hockey team have returned to international hockey's top flight, having been invited to participate in the upcoming FIH Pro League 2024/25 Season 6.

Following a strong season in the league and at this summer's Paris 2024 Olympic Games, Mark Tumilty's side are the ninth and final team to be confirmed in the men's competition for Season 6.

It comes despite being relegated in Season 5 and is the result of New Zealand declining to participate.

Season 6 will see them compete against the eight best teams in the world including Olympic gold medallists the Netherlands, the silver medallists Germany, and fellow podium unit India who took bronze in Paris, as well as last season's Pro League winners Australia.

The 2024/25 Pro League season will get underway in November and Ireland will play their first fixtures in December in Argentina.

The winners of the league will gain direct qualification for the 2026 FIH Hockey World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium.

"I am delighted that we have been given the opportunity to participate," said Tumilty.

"It is an excellent and invaluable opportunity to compete against the top nations in the world again. It will give real impetus to our programme as we build on the progress made in 2024 and it will provide an opportunity for younger players to get exposure to matches against the top nations very early in the new Olympic cycle."