Ireland Hockey

Organised by the Hockey Ireland the Ireland Men's National Field Hockey Team represents the entire island of Ireland and plays under a special flag. The team was organised by the Irish Hockey Union (IHU) prior to the IHA's formation in 2000,

Ireland has qualified for the Hockey World Cup twice, finishing 12th in 1978 and 1990.

The team won silver medals at the 1908 Olympic tournament in London, losing the final to England. Belonging to two of four from the Home Nations of what was then the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, their medals are credited to Great Britain.

Since the establishment of the Olympic Council of Ireland in 1922, no Irish team was invited. Until 1988, the Olympic hockey tournament was by invitation only. Players from Northern Ireland have participated on the Great Britain team, which plays only in the Olympics; otherwise, England, Scotland and Wales play separately. In spite of opposition from many of its Northern Irish officials, the IHU entered the qualifying round of the 1992 tournament.

Ireland has never qualified for the Olympic tournament prior to the 2016 Summer Olympics. It missed out on the 2008 Olympics after losing on goal difference to Argentina and New Zealand at a qualifying event held in New Zealand followed by a third-place play-off loss against France. In 2012, both the men's and women's teams lost final elimination matches and did not qualify for the 2012 London Olympics. The light shown on the team when in 2015, a fifth-place finish in the World Hockey League semi-final, along with favourable continental results for other teams led to Ireland finally qualifying for the men's tournament in 2016.

Current Roster

The following players were named in the provisional squad for the 2018 World Cup to be held in Bhubaneswar, India.

Head coach: Alexander Cox

Assistant coach: Kai de Jager, John Bessell

Manager: Gareth Kidd