This may be the astroturf age but it will be back to lush natural grass for more than 900 players making up 80 teams from 12 countries taking part in the Golden Oldies hockey festival at Marlay Park in Dublin from September 6th-13th.

In heralding the tournament - promoted by Air New Zealand and organised by Monkstown HC - at Guinness's yesterday, the Minister of State at the Department of Tourism, Sport and Recreation, Chris Flood, noted the common roots which hockey shared with hurling.