HOCKEY: Mens schedule released for Rip Olympic Games

The schedule see’s Ireland’s men open their tournament against India at 11:00 on August 6, before facing world number two the Netherlands the following day at 18:00.

The Green Machine have a rest day on August 8 and face Germany on the 9th at 12:30.

Their pool games draw to a close against Canada on August 11 at 11:00 and Argentina on August 12 at 19:30.

From there, depending on pool standings, they could be in quarter final action on Sunday August 14.

Ireland sit in Pool B alongside world number two ranked Netherlands, defending Olympic champions Germany (3); Argentina (6); India (7); and Canada (14).

Pool A sees reigning World and Hockey World League champions Australia, currently ranked number one in the world, face Great Britain (4 – based on England’s ranking); 2015 Hockey World League runners up Belgium (5); New Zealand (8); Spain (11) and hosts Brazil (32).

Speaking about the match schedule, coach Craig Fulton said “The Olympic schedule is finally released and we are very happy with the times and days our games have been allocated.

“We will play five pool games in the first sevenat challenge one game at a time.

“We have an exciting first game against India in game one,” he added.