Basketball & hockey seasons are halted



Basketball Ireland has confirmed it is halting the start of the new men’s and women’s national basketball league seasons, in light of the rising Covid numbers and latest government restrictions.

The 2020/21 National League basketball season has been halted with immediate effect. The Super League and Division One season’s were due to start this weekend.

It follows a meeting of the Sport Expert Group, which confirmed that the latest restrictions by the government will result in senior national competitions being stopped.

Basketball Ireland was informed through Sport Ireland of the Sport Expert Group’s decision. No senior national competition permitted is now permitted in Level 3.

Basketball Ireland CEO, Bernard O’Byrne, said “This news has reached us this evening and while naturally disappointed that we can’t start our season, we fully understand the decision made by the Sport Expert Group, in light of the latest government restrictions. We are still awaiting the detail of the decision, but we will now work together with Sport Ireland and our National League clubs over the coming days to make a plan for 2020/21 season.”

Earlier. the board of Hockey Ireland postponed all hockey competitions on an all-Ireland basis until further notice.  Training can still proceed subject to Hockey Ireland protocols and restrictions and any restrictions that may apply locally.

This also means that the Interprovincial Competitions scheduled for the end of October are postponed.

Elite hockey activity can proceed, and this applies to the Irish Senior Men and Irish Senior Women’s teams only.



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