Ireland play the waiting game on International Rules squad

THE Irish International Rules management team will not “put a gun to any player’s head” if they face the dilemma of whether to stay at home to fulfil club commitments or fly out to Australia next weekend ahead of the upcoming test matches in Melbourne and the Gold Coast.

Ireland are already resigned to being without Kerry attacker Darran O’Sullivan due to his involvement with Mid Kerry in Sunday week’s county senior decider and could also be without captain Stephen Cluxton and Laois player Colm Begley who face a Dublin SFC quarter-final tie with their club Parnells next Saturday afternoon.

Selector Sean Óg de Paor last night revealed that no decision has been made as to who will replace Cluxton as captain if the Dublin goalkeeper is unable to travel and the management are adopting a wait-and-see approach ahead of this weekend’s fixtures.