Paul Earley International Rules Manager

[fearglasmor]

A gimmick to try to "reinvigorate" something that was already a gimmick.

Maybe we should have a team of Native American Indians in next years Connacht championship.

Please GAA put this crap to sleep for good.

[Syferus]

A gimmick to try to "reinvigorate" something that was already a gimmick.

Maybe we should have a team of Native American Indians in next years Connacht championship.

Please GAA put this crap to sleep for good.

It's still better than Ulster football, though.

[orangeman]

So the Aussies are going to be known as the " Indigenous All Stars" - what should we call the Irish team ? Paddy Whackeroos ?



FEARS about the future of the International Rules series have increased again after Australia, as expected, confirmed their decision to send an exclusively indigenous team to represent them this season.




The GAA have "expressed concerns" to the AFL as their team of largely lesser-known players may not attract the necessary crowds to Kingspan Breffni Park (October 19) and Croke Park (October 26) to make the series viable. It will be only the second time that an all-indigenous team will represent Australia in a sporting fixture after a cricket team that toured England in 1868.

"We can recognise the historical significance of it but we would have expressed concerns to the AFL of the possible impact of limiting the squad to one group of players," the GAA's director of games administration and player welfare, Feargal McGill, admitted.

"The International Rules has been about putting out the best Irish players against the best Australian players, and this is a bit of a departure.

"Notwithstanding that, we accept Australia will be represented by a strong team and there is plenty to suggest they will be stronger than their team on the last occasion (2011)."

Former Premiership and All-Ireland winner Tadhg Kennelly will be a coaching assistant for the touring team, who will be known as 'The Indigenous All Stars'. Ireland's team will be managed by Paul Earley and his back room includes Ciaran Whelan, Tony Scullion and Seamus McCarthy.

[Jinxy]

Little dickish for Tadgh to be helping the Aussies.

Them sending off these lads against the GAA's wishes tells you the series is on the way out unless the Aussies cop on.

There'll be a plane load next year taking off from Dublin for their 3 week holiday test series.


There's still huge interest in this game.

Lads who think this daft circus makes them 'international' sportsmen love it.
The likes of Stevie McDonnell for example, who unforgivably compared it to winning an All Ireland title.
The general public don't care.

[Rossfan]

The general public don't care.

Attendance figures in Ireland sine 1998 would strongly suggest otherwise.

[Jinxy]

In recent years they don't care.
Not since they took the fights out.
The tickets are dirt cheap and clubs use it as an opportunity to take a scatter of kids for a day out.
Lets be honest, if they jacked it in tomorrow no one would be that bothered.

[Rossfan]

Lets be honest, if they jacked it in tomorrow no one would be that bothered.

You could say the same about the FBD, O'Byrne etc , Junior Championship, NFL, Railway Cups................

[fearglasmor]

Lets be honest, if they jacked it in tomorrow no one would be that bothered.

You could say the same about the FBD, O'Byrne etc , Junior Championship, NFL, Railway Cups................

You could also say that FBD, O'Byrne etc, Junior Championship, NFL, Railway Cups (although they don't exist) were Gaelic Football or Hurling competitions.

Though I'd scrap the FBD, O'Byrne, McKenna etc also

[orangeman]

Lets be honest, if they jacked it in tomorrow no one would be that bothered.

You could say the same about the FBD, O'Byrne etc , Junior Championship, NFL, Railway Cups................

You could also say that FBD, O'Byrne etc, Junior Championship, NFL, Railway Cups (although they don't exist) were Gaelic Football or Hurling competitions.

Though I'd scrap the FBD, O'Byrne, McKenna etc also

The FBD, O'Byrne, mc Kenna cups are effectively challenge matches at which the provincial councils can charge into !

[Jinxy]

Do you know where that money goes?

[rodney trotter]

A gimmick to try to "reinvigorate" something that was already a gimmick.

Maybe we should have a team of Native American Indians in next years Connacht championship.

Please GAA put this crap to sleep for good.

It's still better than Ulster football, though.

As oppose to Connacht football being free flowing, all out attack. Maybe that's why Ross were hammered by Mayo?

The best game in the Championship this year was between Derry and Down.
Donegal and Down was a good tactical battle too , with some great scores.

Not one sided hammerings like in Connacht

[DUBSFORSAM1]

Little dickish for Tadgh to be helping the Aussies.

Them sending off these lads against the GAA's wishes tells you the series is on the way out unless the Aussies cop on.

If they get the likes of Franklin, Burgouyne, Goodes, Rioli, Jetta, Davey etc they'll probably beat Ireland again though

[Syferus]

Little dickish for Tadgh to be helping the Aussies.

Them sending off these lads against the GAA's wishes tells you the series is on the way out unless the Aussies cop on.

If they get the likes of Franklin, Burgouyne, Goodes, Rioli, Jetta, Davey etc they'll probably beat Ireland again though

Better they beat us with their best and try and excite the Australian and Irish public by it being a true all-star series than sending some New Zealand Maori/Catlonia national team rip-off with none of those sides' tradition or history. For a country that got hockeyed at home last time to down-grade the quality of opposition they're sending is a huge insult to the GAA and to the series itself.