Leading umpire Metchette forced to quit

Top Irish umpire Carol Metchette has admitted she was forced to retire from international tournaments against her wishes.

Metchette, who took up umpiring in 2002 after 18 years in the Old Alex first team and went on to referee at two Olympics, a World Cup and a Champions Trophy, hung up her whistle after overseeing the Champions Challenge I final in Dublin in early October.

While the International Hockey Federation (FIH) are looking into increasing the upper age limit for top-class umpires, they have yet to implement an official change to the current cut-off age of 47.