Hurling set for rule-change trials in third-level games later this year

The Hurling Expert Advisory Group is set to make recommendations.

Former Cork manager John Meyler is leading the group. Pic: David Fitzgerald/Sportsfile

The GAA’s Hurling Expert Advisory Group is set to sandbox recommended rule changes in the Higher Education hurling league later this year.

It comes after the committee, chaired by former Cork manager John Meyler, launched a survey seeking feedback on current playing rules last June. An interim report on those responses will be published at the start of next month.

The new group is working with the Games Intelligence Unit (GIU) to inform its recommendations. While there is a broad acceptance that hurling does not require the same level of intervention that Gaelic football underwent, the Football Review Committee did provide a template for utilising feedback and conducting ‘sandbox’ trials.

In 2023, the Freshers 1 hurling competitions were used to trial an alternative rule for handpassing and puck-outs. The handpass had to be a clear striking action with the other hand, which involved transferring the hurley to the other hand. The other option was to tap the ball with the hurley before striking it with the hand that originally released it.

At the time, puck-outs had to cross the 45-metre line.

This year there has been a push to develop an accurate picture of how the game is played, particularly the number of handpasses, rucks and short puck-outs. The number of fouls, whether they were aggressive, technical or dissent-related and the outcome and origin of rucks are also being examined.

The GAA’s National Head of Hurling Willie Maher, former Kilkenny star Richie Hogan, Galway’s Jeff Lynskey, former referee John Keenan, Hurling Development Committee chair Terry Reilly, former Offaly hurler Rory Hanniffy and former Wexford star Ursula Jacob are members of the group.