Munster players to meet over format
The Munster branch is refusing to compete in this year's interprovincial series as a result of late changes to the format which would involve the squad playing twice in one day.
Munster and Ireland star Jason Black said yesterday while the matter was still up in the air, coach Denis Pritchard wanted to get their views on the situation.
"The big problem with the format is the increased number of games," said Black. "We're expected to play three games in two days, which means you could end up playing two top games in one day. That's ridiculous," he said.
Black suggested the new format is an attempt to compromise on a bigger issue: "The background to this situation is simple: we want an All-Ireland league in some form, and when I saw 'we' I mean the Munster and Leinster branches.
"However, the hockey hierarchy doesn't agree, so this proposal for the interprovincial weekend is the alternative: instead of the old system two games over a weekend we're being asked to play two games in three days.
"That's not the way forward for hockey. The reason we want an All-Ireland league is to give ourselves games at a high level. That's not being selfish, there are a few advantages to it: Obviously you'd have a higher standard of hockey if the top teams were playing week in, week out, rather than coming up against each other once a year over a weekend," he said.
Black suggests it would be better for the image of Irish hockey to have teams playing every week rather than have a few games squeezed into a couple of days over one weekend. He also feels the new proposal won't help Ireland to become more competitive at international level.
"The new Irish coach is to be appointed shortly, and these interprovincials will be his only chance to see the Irish players in action before the next European championships next September. If the Munster players don't participate, which looks likely, then those players don't get a chance to show what they can do," he said.
Black identifies the Ulster branch as a stumbling block to the creation of a national league: "The Munster and Leinster branches both want an All-Ireland league, it's the Ulster branch that are against it.
"In club hockey we (Harlequins) are beating teams 7-0; that's no good for us, and it's not fair on the teams we're playing. When we play club games the other sides are just bringing the bare 11 along, they're just fulfilling the fixtures. That's no good for anyone and we're going to have to change it," he said.
Black feels Munster may not have many choices for this year's interprovincials, but that other options will eventually have to be considered.
"A Munster-Leinster league wouldn't work for political reasons, but at the moment we're getting nowhere when it comes to improving ourselves. We just want to play better games with whoever will play us."
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