As we inch ever closer to the start of the FIH Hockey Pro League 2025-26 season on 9 December, we are excited to bring you an exclusive pre-season interview series with players and coaches from the world’s top hockey nations participating in the “League of the Best”.
This series will dive into the minds of the sport’s finest athletes and coaches, uncovering their thoughts on the upcoming season, personal goals, and the strategies their teams are crafting to compete at the highest level. From seasoned veterans to rising stars, these interviews provide a unique glimpse into the passion, preparation, and drive that fuel the teams vying for glory.
In today’s interview we speak with Sarah Hawkshaw, captain of the Irish women’s hockey team — who will make their debut in the competition during season 7, having earned promotion via the FIH Hockey Nations Cup 2024/25!
How excited are you to make your FIH Hockey Pro League debut?
“We are extremely excited for our Pro League debut in Dublin in December. Not only that but getting to host our first Pro League games adds to the excitement. After following our national men’s team in the tournament the past two years, we have seen how important it is to be competing in the Pro League, and how they have matched top world nations on numerous occasions. We see the tournament as a vital opportunity for our squad to play consistently at the highest level throughout the year due to the layout of the tournament offering something different than what we are used to, as it runs as more of a year long league, rather than the traditional tournament style international competition. The game of hockey moves at a fast pace, and being in the Pro League will progress the Green Army’s momentum as we move into important years ahead with World Cup and Olympic Qualifications.”
How special is it to get to play these games in Ireland in front of a home crowd?
“Playing these games in our home brings with it an added sense of pride not only for us as players, but for our supporters and hockey community. We know our Irish supporters have travelled far and wide to support us on the international calendar and here is a chance to give back to them and bring the top nations of hockey to our own back yard. It also offers us the opportunity to bring the love of hockey into more people’s lives as we reach a broader audience on the island of Ireland that really is sport mad. Home advantage makes a difference in sport, and we will make sure to maximise its potential. We look forward to seeing a sea of green line the sidelines in Sport Ireland Campus.”
What are your ambitions for this Pro League season?
“Our ambition for this season’s Pro League is to take it game by game as we know with each match comes the opportunity to increase our world rankings with such a concentration of high calibre teams. We believe we are amongst this class of hockey nations and we can compete in every match up and come away with multiple wins in the season ahead.”
Aside from Ireland, what stage of the FIH Pro League are you most looking forward to?
“It’s hard not to mention Hobart, Australia as an exciting stage ahead. A nation that also is sports mad and is a country that I don’t believe any of us have played an international fixture in, it will be new territory for us all. Even with it being across the world, we expect to see a few familiar faces out here supporting us from the side lines.”
What opposition are you most excited to play against?
“I don’t think there is one nation over another that I could say. As we have consistently competed in all but one of the top-level majors over the past 8 years, we have played all of the competing nations. Every fixture will come with its own challenges, its own opportunities, and we will be excited to line out proudly in the Green Jersey.”
