Hurling expert advisory group to begin review of the game on Sunday in Thurles

The group will make recommendations based on data, including the possibility of rule changes for hurling.

Thu, 16 Apr, 2026 - 14:10

Maurice Brosnan

The new hurling expert advisory group, chaired by former Cork manager John Meyler, will meet for the first time this Sunday in the billiards room of Hayes Hotel, Thurles.

The group are working with the Games Intelligence Unit (GIU) and will make recommendations based on their data, including the possibility of rule changes for hurling. They will convene in the same room where the founding members established the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1884.

While there is a broad acceptance that hurling does not require the level of intervention seen in Gaelic football recently, the Football Review Committee did provide a template for this sort of process and the hurling group will conduct sandbox games if necessary later this year.

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The GAA’s National Head of Hurling Willie Maher is also on the committee. Maher has consistently advocated for developing an accurate picture of the game and its trends, particularly the number of handpasses, rucks and short puckouts.

There are several stakeholders represented on the committee which also includes former Kilkenny star Richie Hogan, Galway’s All-Ireland winning under-age manager Jeff Lynskey, former All-Ireland SHC final referee John Keenan, Hurling Development Committee chairman Terry Reilly, former Offaly hurler Rory Hanniffy and former Wexford star Ursula Jacob.

As well as establishing the GIU on a permanent basis, the remit was expanded to hurling this year under the lead of Dr Michael McKay of the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland and a research associate at the University of Ulster.

In 2025, the GIU provided data and statistical analysis for the FRC as they monitored the impact of the new rules. They also supplied data and video analysis to inter-county referees and strengthened relationships within the Performance Analysis community through shared video footage.

There are hopes that the GIU could become a powerful promotional tool for hurling as well. Sports like basketball and the NFL have used statistical analysis and video footage to enhance fan engagement and deepen understanding of the game.

GAA president Jarlath Burns has also charged Kevin McStay with heading up a Gaelic football expert group. That includes Kerry legend Maurice Fitzgerald, referee David Coldrick, former Galway player John Tobin, Monaghan’s Conor McManus, former Croke Park referees manager and FRC member Patrick Doherty, GIU football lead Johnny Bradley and National Participation and Séamus Kenny, the Programmes manager for the GAA.