Into the big league… Ireland hockey women to compete against world’s best in Pro League for the first time

IRELAND’S Women’s Hockey team have officially accepted the invitation from the International Hockey Federation to join Season 7 of the FIH Pro League for 2025/26.

The Ireland Women are the ninth and final team to be confirmed for the Seventh Edition of the FIH Pro League, appearing in the competition for the very first time.

They will play alongside the World’s top sides, including Olympic gold medalists and World No.1 The Netherlands, Olympic Bronze Medalists and World No.2 Argentina, and World No.3 Belgium.

The invitation to the Ireland Women’s Team, currently ranked No.11 in the world, comes following their FIH Hockey Nations Cup silver medal in March of this year, where they narrowly missed out on automatic promotion to gold medalists New Zealand, who have opted to decline the invitation.

Ireland will replace India in next season’s competition, following their relegation on Sunday.

Speaking after the announcement, Ireland Women’s Head Coach Gareth Grundie said: “I am delighted that we have been given the opportunity to participate in the FIH Pro League 2025/26 Season 7.

“It’s a testament to the quality of play this team has achieved to date and is an excellent and invaluable opportunity for further improvement.

“It comes at an ideal time for us as a programme also, pitting us against the World’s best teams as we go in search of qualification for the 2026 FIH World Cup in the Netherlands and Belgium.”