RIET KUPER yesterday tendered her resignation as coach to the Irish senior women’s hockey team in a move which could ultimately see several changes in the sport’s international coaching system.

Uncapped players Louise Henderson, Zanya Dahl, Sinead Dooley and Katherine Elkins have all been named in Ireland’s squad which will begin preparations for the World Cup qualifying competition in Rome next April.

IRELAND’S women’s coach Riet Kuper has backed the idea of our leading young players moving to Europe’s top leagues to further their hockey education.

Ireland 0 Holland 4

RIET KUPER has collected a lot of air miles during her eight-year tenure as Irish coach.

TEENAGE hockey sensation Emma Stewart has been named in the final Irish squad for the European Championships in Dublin in less than two weeks time.

The Ireland women’s team travel to Germany for a four-nation tournament next week as they prepare to host the European Championship in August.

NIGEL BUTTIMER has announced his retirement from international hockey at the age of 28.

Ireland's women's hockey team signed off their failed Olympic qualifying campaign in New Zealand with a 4-1 defeat against England.

New Zealand 5 (Igasan 17, Sharland 29, Provan 37, 51, Roberts 47) Ireland 1 (McDonough 37)

ORLA RYAN and Pamela Orr were yesterday dropped by Irish ladies hockey coach Riet Kuper, as she announced her squad for the forthcoming Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Auckland, New Zealand from March 19 to 28.

IRISH ladies hockey coach Riet Kuper has named a squad of 20 to travel to America next month as preparations intensify ahead of the Olympic qualifying tournament in Auckland from March 19-28.

THE Irish men’s hockey team will have to quickly overcome their disappointment of failing to beat Belgium on Monday and missing out on a top eight finish in the European Championships, or they could lose further momentum.

Ireland 0, England 3

THE Irish Hockey Association raised more than a few eyebrows at the European Championships over the weekend when it emerged that an Irish player was allowed home from the tournament on Friday to attend a wedding.

Ireland 0, Germany 4

Ireland2 Italy1

IRELAND’S men’s hockey coach John Clarke watched France beat Russia on Monday and despite his own side’s 6-4 loss to Spain, he is quietly confident of being able to beat both Pool A rivals, with the Russians being first up on the agenda at Montjuich this afternoon.

RIET KUPER remembers only too vividly Ireland ladies’ first training camp in the build up to this week’s European Championships in Barcelona.

ON June 17 2001 Karen O’Brien walked away from international hockey. At just 27 years of age she was probably just coming to the peak of her career as an international striker, but the burden of being an amateur player in an almost entirely professional set-up with Ireland was becoming too much.

IRISH ladies’ hockey coach Riet Kuper is to remain in the job, despite recent speculation to the contrary.

THE Irish women’s squad face another mammoth World Cup task against powerful Netherlands in Perth today.

IRISH coach Riet Kuper was left frustrated yesterday after she witnessed her Irish hockey team played brilliantly but lose 2-1 to world champions Australia in the World Cup in Perth to remain point-less at the bottom of their pool.

England 3 Ireland 1