Ulster chief’s green dreams end GB row

ONE of the top figures in Ulster hockey has said he looks forward to seeing its young stars in the green of Ireland, after the issue of Ulster’s U18 players being encouraged to declare for Great Britain was seemingly put to bed.

Raymond Hughes, president of the Ulster Branch of the Irish Hockey Association (UBIHA), made his comments after Ulster finished second at the UK Schools Games, a tournament where the province competed against England, Scotland and Wales, in Bristol last weekend.

The move comes after an item posted on the Ulster Hockey website last week openly claimed the tournament offered players a chance to impress Great Britain selectors.