They're hardy souls, these hockey players. While much of the country is currently closed for business there appears to be no question of rain stopping play at the Intervarsities tournament which is scheduled to begin in Limerick today.

While hovercrafts, rather than coaches, might have been the more appropriate mode of transport for the teams travelling to the event yesterday the organisers were confident that all would reach their destination in time for this morning's opening games.

While there probably won't be much need to hose the water-based pitches ahead of today's fixtures the two venues - the University of Limerick and the Limerick Institute of Technology - have escaped the worst of the deluge. So, assuming they successfully waded their way south, Trinity College will open the defence of both the Mauritius and Chilean Cups they won in Jordanstown last year against the Royal College of Surgeons today.

Trinity's women's team is aiming for its fifth successive victory in the Chilean Cup but should face a stiff challenge from the hosts, the University of Limerick, semi-finalists last year, and UCD who Trinity beat in an epic penalty strokes competition (10-9) after last year's final ended in a scoreless draw.

The University of Ulster, who have been drawn in the same pool as Trinity, could also prove to be the holders chief rivals now that they are a Section One team in Ulster having won promotion to the top flight for the first time last season.

The University of Ulster's men's team will also be hopeful of dethroning Trinity to whom they lost 3-2 in last year's thrilling final. UCD, the 1998 winners, will vie with Jordanstown for top spot in Pool A where Queens will also fancy their chances of winning through to the semi-finals. In Pool B DCU will attempt to match last year's achievement of reaching the last four by finishing in the top two - they open their campaign against UCC today.