'Any player wants to represent their country': Scullion hopes Rules revival plan gets green light

Tony Scullion of Derry with his Football Hall of Fame award. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Derry great Tony Scullion is hoping a proposal to revive the International Rules series will get the green light on Saturday week.

Central Council are expected to vote on a recommendation to stage the hybrid tests against Australia in Ireland next year for the first time since 2017.

Four-time All-Star Scullion played in two series, 1987 and ’90, and was also a selector during Paul Earley’s management in 2013 and ’15 as well as being Ireland’s U17 head coach in 2002.

“I know it’s a mixture of both codes but if you’re playing either sport only, it’s the only way you can represent your country,” said the Ballinascreen man. “I played it, it’s a great game. In the early stages, there were things happening but there were great games played and in the right manner. Any player wants to represent their country and it’s a great opportunity.

“When you look at the team I played on, it was made up of the best players. Yes, there might have been an odd one who couldn’t play because of club involvement or injury. But I played with some great players.”

Scullion has said before he can’t separate his Celtic Cross and his appearances for Ireland. Representative football meant the world to him be it for his province or country.

“I was lucky enough to win an All-Ireland in 1993 but I started playing for Ulster in 1987 and Derry weren’t winning a lot — we did win the Ulster Championship that year. So, to get the opportunity to play for my province against the best players from the other provinces, it was a privilege and an honour for me.

“And then to put on the Irish jersey and play for my country in international rules. I played in every minute of the three tests out in Australia in 1990 and to stand there and hear your National Anthem being played. This is before Derry won an All-Ireland title in 1993, they were very special times for me.” 

Although they have had their difficulties since their back-to-back Ulster titles in 2022 and ’23, Scullion is convinced Derry can lift the Sam Maguire Cup in the coming years.

“I believe Derry can win an All-Ireland over the next five years. We still have quality. Brendan Rogers, Conor Glass, Shane McGuigan. There is still time left in them. They look after themselves so well. We have a lot of good quality players through the spine of our team, and I really do think we can win a Sam Maguire in that timeframe.”

Scullion was inducted into the Gaelic Writers Association’s Football Hall of Fame at the GWA awards, sponsored by Clayton Hotels, at the Clayton Hotel, Ballsbridge last weekend.