WOMEN'S HOCKEY: Graeme Francey will continue in his role as acting coach for the Irish women's senior team as they take on hosts France, Scotland and Wales at the Celtic Cup in Le Touquet this weekend, but Riet Kuper's long-term successor is expected to be unveiled early next week, with the Irish Hockey Association understood to have opted for a foreign coach once again.
The rumour mill has his nationality as South African, a man who has already coached two senior international teams (men and women) - his resignation from the second of those posts last week would suggest, for once, the rumour mill might be on to something.
Whoever takes over from Kuper will have as his (or her) chief target qualification for the next Olympic Games but, before then, there are the European Championships in Manchester in a year's time, for which this weekend's Celtic Cup effectively marks the start of the build-up.
Several of the squad's senior players have been rested for the tournament, giving a clutch of youngsters, such as Julia O'Halloran, Jeamie Deacon, Lauren Barr and Cliodhna Sargent, the chance to press their claim.
Ireland open the defence of the Celtic Cup, which they have won for the last two years, against Scotland today.
IRELAND (squad): M Goode, L Healy, B McKeever, L Barr, C Parkhill, E Harte, E Stewart, Z Dahl, E Cregan, A Speers, K Elkin, N Symmons, N Keegan, J Deacon, C Sargent, J O'Halloran, L Jacob, E Clarke.
CELTIC CUP (at Le Touquet): Today: Ireland v Scotland 12.30. Tomorrow: Ireland v France, 5.30. Sunday: Ireland v Wales, 10.30.
