International Rules back on the agenda

The GAA and the Australian Football League (AFL) will meet in Dubai this week for talks in a bid to restore the future of the International Rules series.

Former Derry footballer Anthony Tohill, along with GAA President Nickey Brennan and Director of Games Pat Daly will meet AFL Chief Executive Andrew Demetriou as the possibility for the return of the series increases.

GAA Director General Pauric Duffy is optimistic that a compromise can be reached between the GAA and AFL over the safeguarding of the series.

"I would be optimistic. Nickey and I met Andrew Demetriou back in October in Paris and that was a very good meeting, a very positive meeting," Duffy said.

"We have exchanged documents and correspondence since that. We have made some proposals in terms of discipline before the Dubai meeting and they have responded to them and will be putting proposals on the table."

Duffy is confident that both sides will be giving it 100 per cent in their search for an agreement on the International Rules series.

"I think that there is a very genuine commitment on both sides to resolve the discipline issue. There is a very strong commitment and we would be strongly satisfied with the approach the AFL have taken to it in recent months.

"There are a lot of issues to be hammered out but I think both sides going into those talks would be going in with the belief that we can resolve the problems that have plagued the last couple of series."

Discipline is a key issue for the GAA if the International Rules is to make a return.

"There would be no future for this series if the violence that marked the last two series was to occur," Duffy stressed.

"Everyone accepts that, and that is a given now. I think both sides are committed to try and develop the game and the disciplinary procedures. If we can't do that and that's not possible - there will be no series."

While explaining that disciplinary matters is a key factor in finding a resolution to the issue, Duffy believes that the links between the AFL and GAA are far more wide ranging than on-field issues.

"Anthony Tohill, Pat Daly and the Uachtaran are out there and they will try and reach an agreement on discipline first and foremost. That's far and away the most important thing but there are other issues as well.

"I think both sides have fallen down in terms of how we mix the cultural links and how the players socialise because there are a lot of areas around that which would impact on discipline which have to be addressed, but if there is an agreement in principle it will come back to Ard Chomhairle and Coiste Bainsti for a decision very soon.

"I have no idea whether or not the proposal, if there is such a proposal from Dubai, would be for this year or next year.

"That's for discussion but obviously whatever emerges from Dubai would go before Central Council for approval. They will make the final decision on it," he added.

In the past two years the GAA has lost the likes of Down's Martin Clarke, Kevin Dyas from Armagh and Laois footballer Colm Begley to Aussie Rules.

However, Duffy believes that the links between the two sporting bodies need to be strengthened, and not severed.

"I think the lack of links with the AFL have served to increase the amount of recruitment," the Monaghan man admitted.

"There is obviously an issue there and it has been well highlighted but I think that if we have no links with the AFL that we have absolutely no control on the movement of players.

"I think it is important to put the movement of players into context. It is still a relatively small number of players and in terms of the players we might lose to the games in other ways, it's a very small number.

"It is a concern for counties that lose very good players but I think there is a much better chance of dealing with that if we have a relationship with the AFL.

"We would prefer to have a good relationship with the AFL rather than a series that destroys that.

"I think we can develop a relationship and address some of those issues more easily if we have a long-term relationship that does involve the playing of games."