The Season is fast approaching and I want to highlight the importance to players to continually check the IBA Website for details of important dates coming up. This is going to be the main forum for communication between myself and the players so please keep a regular check on it.

Please see below details of events that are being planned for the upcoming season. Please take a note of the dates as it is important to be available. It is hoped that players will make themselves available for ALL appropriate dates and hopefully this early notification will allow this to happen. Where there is any, unavoidable absence, I would encourage you to let me know as soon as possible.

International Trial and Subsequent  Practice Match for Team

Sunday 4th June – International Trial (32 Players to be selected after Inter-Association Series) – Belmont (9.00 – 18.00) – 2 x 21 End Games to be played

Sunday 25th June – International Team Practice – Belmont (10.00 – 2.00) 1 x 21 End Game

International Test Match

Sunday 27th and Monday 28th August – Aer Lingus (2 Full Days Play – Overnight Stay in Dublin Sat 26th and Sun 27th)

A 10 man team will be selected for this event and full details, including those selected, will be announced later in the season.

U-25 International Team

Sunday 3rd September – Practice Match – Falls (10.00 – 2.30)

Squad Session x2

These sessions are for both the Elite and Development Squads which were announced earlier in the year.

Sunday 30th July – Squad Session – Old Bleach (11.00 – 5.00)

Sunday 13th August – Squad Session – Aer Lingus (11.00 – 5.00)

Again full details of format etc. will be shared later in the season and as soon as they are firmed up.

Winter Training Camp

It is anticipated that there will be a Winter Training Camp hopefully against International Opposition towards the end of November / Start of December. Full Details will be released once known.

Inter- Association 5 Man Series – Senior and U-25

Sunday 17th September 9.00 –  18.00 Belmont Bowling Club

It is also my intention to sit down with players from both Squads during the season on a one to one basis to discuss the way forward both from an individual’s perspective and from Team Irelands perspective. It is hoped that this will be done with the new Assistant Manager once he is appointed.

Regards

Neil

Men’s International Team Manager