Dublin, December 18: Hockey Ireland would like to wish Katie Mullan, Roisin Upton, David Harte, Jaime Carr, and Tim Cross the very best of luck as they prepare to depart for the Hockey India League, taking place from the December 28, 2024 to February 1, 2025.
David Harte will be making his fifth Hockey India League appearance, having previously represented Mumbai Magicians in 2014, followed by a three-year stint at Dabang Mumbai from 2015 to 2017. This season Harte will represent Tamil Nadu Dragons, based in the Southernmost state of India, Tamil Nadu.
Róisín Upton, Katie Mullan, Jaime Carr, and Tim Cross will all compete in their first ever Hockey India League. The five players have been drafted to play for Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers, based in the northeast region of Rahr.
First established in 2013, the Hockey India League is a closed franchise league organised by Hockey India. The league consists of eight men’s teams and four women’s teams which compete in a round robin format followed by a play-off phase to determine the overall winner. Just like the EY Hockey League, the Hockey India League has also adopted the bonus point shootout format, such that should the teams conclude regular time level on goals, they will both be awarded 1 point, and will compete in a shootout competition for an additional bonus point, adding extra excitement and jeopardy for teams and fans.
The competition will be held in two stadiums, the Birsa Munda International Hockey Stadium in Rourkela, and the Marang Gomke Jaipal Singh Astro Turf Hockey Stadium in Ranchi.
The Men’s HIL will commence on December 28th, 2024, with David Harte, Jaime Carr, and Tim Cross set to play their first games the following day. Harte will line-up against Soorma Hockey Club, while Carr and Cross will face Hyderabad Toofans in their first match. The Women’s HIL will begin its first ever season on January 12, 2025, with Roisin Upton and Katie Mullan making their first appearance for Shrachi Rarh Bengal Tigers on January 13 against Soorma Hockey Club.
The Hockey Ireland Competitions Committee, in response to a formal exemption request from Railway Union, has considered the matter of eligibility for the two players (Mullan and Upton) to play in EYHL/ISC in the second half of the season on return from the Hockey India franchise league.
EuroHockey and the top European Nations amended their regulations at the start of this season to enable players use the mid-season break to play in closed franchise leagues outside of Europe and return to play the second half of the season, with continuing eligibility to play for their club in national leagues and EuroHockey club competitions in the same season.
Under Hockey Ireland Clubs Outdoor regulations, players are considered new members to a club if they have played competitive hockey anywhere else in the world, with the only specific exception being the recognition of the NCAA Field Hockey (USA Colleges) which is a closed competition and not a national league.
The decision of the Competitions Committee to grant Mullan and Upton eligibility to resume playing for Railway Union in the current season was made in alignment with the current regulations which do not apply to closed, non-European competitions. This also aligns with EuroHockey (and other National Associations) regulation changes introduced at the start of this season, to ensure there is no barrier to players earning from commercial / franchise competitions outside of Europe.
The Hockey Ireland Clubs Outdoor regulations will be amended before the start of next season to explicitly reflect this latest global commercial hockey initiative within the eligibility regulations, ensuring top players from Ireland can exploit earning potential, without detriment to the integrity and fairness of Hockey Ireland competitions.