International Rules requires ‘change of mindset’ to continue

IT will need more than a tightening up of the playing rules if the International Rules Series is to continue, Cork GAA Secretary Frank Murphy believes.

He was responding, at yesterday’s annual convention, to a comment by referee Michael Collins, who was involved in the stormy second test in Melbourne that there should be stricter penalties for serious offences.

Mr Collins, a Clonakilty delegate, said that the current rules carried yellow-card penalties for incidents which would merit a red card in their own game. Apart from problems around the tackle, he said a major problem for a referee was the incidence of players ‘being belted’ on the ground while the game was in progress.

However, his personal hope was that the series would continue.

Mr Murphy, who pointed out that he had been involved in the framing of the original rules, said that it required a change of ‘mindset’ from the Australians - to get away from ‘a win-at-all costs’ approach. And, he said it also needed ‘a change of attitude’ from Australian referees, pointing out that difficulties in this area had arisen not just on the recent tour but in previous test games.

Cork was one of several counties to call on the week-end meeting of the Central Council for a discontinuation of the series. At the meeting, ‘considerable disquiet’ was expressed with the incidents of violent play in the recent games and it was agreed that if there was a repeat, the series would have to be discontinued. However, it was decided to defer a decision on the current motions until after the issue has been debated at upcoming county conventions.

In tandem with the discussions in the counties, GAA president Sean Kelly intends to initiate a survey to elicit the views of players and team managers.

And a meeting at the highest level will take place in January between representatives of the GAA and the AFL.

Strong opposition to the U-17 International Series was also voiced and it seems certain that the future of this series will come under severe pressure.

Saturday’s meeting agreed that the appointment of a full time Secretary to administer GAA affairs in Australia would be financially supported.

Meanwhile Donal O’Grady and John Allen were nominated as the respective team managers of the 2004 and 2005 All Star teams due to play in Singapore in January.