hockey

Ireland’s women must plan for the forthcoming World Cup without distinguished goalkeeper Ayeisha McFerran, who has been ruled out of the tournament through injury.

McFerran’s many achievements in the game included being named Goalkeeper of the Tournament at the 2018 World Cup, at which Ireland were silver medallists.

Head coach Gareth Grundie has announced a 20-player squad to travel to Wavre, Belgium.

In McFerran’s absence, Lizzy Murphy and Holly Micklem are named, offering them their first chance to potentially represent Ireland in goal on one of hockey’s biggest stages.

The side will be making their third successive appearance at at a World Cup, having beaten Japan in a shootout in the bronze medal match in Santiago to ensure qualification for the 2026 edition.

Ireland, who are ranked 12th in the world, have been drawn in Pool C of the competition, and will face Spain in their opening match on 16 August, before playing New Zealand two days later and Belgium on 20 August.

A top-two finish in the pool would allow Ireland to progress to Pool E for a shot at a place in the semi-finals, while a third or fourth place finish would send them to Pool H where they will begin their final classification matches.

Meanwhile, Ireland men’s coach Mark Tumilty has also announced a 20-strong squad as the side prepare to make their first appearance in the competition since 2018.

Tumilty has named an unchanged squad from that which secured qualification in Santiago in March courtesy of a comprehensive semi-final win over Wales, before coming from behind to beat France in the final.

Ireland’s men are 10th in the world rankings and have been drawn in Pool C of the competition, taking on Australia in their opener on Sunday, 16 August, before facing South Africa and Spain on 18 and 20 August respectively.

As with the women, a top-two place would put the team into Pool E for a semi-final chance, while they would enter Pool H for classification fixtures if they come third or fourth.

Ireland women’s squad: Elizabeth Murphy, Holly Micklem, Roisin Upton, Hannah McLoughlin, Caoimhe Perdue, Lena Neill, Sarah McAuley, Ellen Curran, Lisa Mulcahy, Sarah Hawkshaw, Charlotte Beggs, Michelle Carey, Christina Hamill, Mia Jennings, Katie Mullan, Sarah Torrans, Aisling Utri, Mikayla Power, Niamh Carey, Emily Kealy.

Ireland men’s squad: Jaime Carr, Luke Roleston, Kyle Marshall (capt), Peter McKibbin, Mark McNellis, Sam Hyland, Gregory Williams, Fergus Gibson, Lee Cole, Luke Witherow, Sean Murray, Johnny McKee, Peter Brown, Adam McAllister, Matthew Nelson, Benjamin Walker, Jeremy Duncan, Ali Empey, Louis Rowe, Jonny Lynch.

Erling Haaland swapped the football pitch for the ice rink as he and his Norway team-mates took in a Stanley Cup match.

The Norway contingent provided lively support for the Carolina Hurricanes in game five of the NHL play-off series against the Vegas Golden Knights on Thursday.

The Manchester City forward, who will make his long-awaited World Cup debut against Iraq on 16 June (23:00 BST), cut a relaxed figure at the Lenovo Centre in Raleigh, waving to the crowd when the Norway team appeared on the scoreboard screen and swinging a Hurricanes rally towel around his head.

Arriving at the game in a grey polo shirt, he was later filmed beaming in a white and red Hurricanes jersey emblazoned with the number nine – the same number he wears for both club and country.

The Hurricanes, targeting their first Stanley Cup crown for 20 years, lead the Golden Knights 3-2 in the best-of-seven series, completing a 4-2 regulation win in game five.

Norway are playing at their first World Cup since 1998 – and their first major tournament since Euro 2000 – and have already made a mark despite not starting their campaign until next Tuesday.