Future of International Rules in limbo

GAA president Nickey Brennan is still waiting for a response from the Australian Football League (AFL) in relation to a meeting on the future of the International Rules series, it has emerged.

A date has been provisionally fixed for a meeting between the bodies and the GAA are awaiting a response, after the AFL postponed a proposed meeting which was due to take place during the summer in America.

"We have settled on a date and I'm just waiting on them to confirm if they can make it," Brennan said.

"They have got some information from us as regards our reaction in relation to last year's events and they know where we will be coming from. We will obviously be sitting down and just finding out if this thing can really move ahead.

"Obviously we are not making a decision yet as to whether we will go ahead with it or not, but our talks will evolve around how and what we need to do on both sides, particularly on their side to see if at least we can consider the series going forward."

The issue of AFL clubs poaching GAA players continues to be an issue but Brennan is not overly worried with the amount of players the Aussies are targeting, like Armagh's star underage player Kevin Dyas.

Brennan feels that there is little the association can do to govern against the poaching of rising GAA players. However it is something that the GAA will be raising at the meeting.

"Of course we will raise that and Kevin Dyas from Armagh is the latest player to be mentioned. In an overall context, there are not that many, to be fair about it, but I'm quite sure that the people in Armagh would be concerned. I'm not sure if this chap is taking up the offer or not but at least it is being considered," he said.

"I could imagine the county wouldn't like to lose a talented player like that as it attempts to rebuild again under a new manager.

"At the end of the day, I have said that we can't stop these young players from going. It is a free choice if they want to go or not and certainly we will not be putting rules in place.

"Whether or not we continue with the International Rules game, I honestly don't think that is going to have any great impact or whether these players continue to travel Down Under to play Aussie Rules."

Brennan was speaking at the launch of the GAA's Fun-Do resource pack for GAA coaches and clubs and also the Ceim ar Aghaidh resource pack for primary school teachers.

The packs along with a new referees resource CD-Rom were jointly launched by the Kilkenny native and An Taoiseach Bertie Ahern.