The GAA'S Australian connection has been renewed with a four-year programme. It was announced last night at Croke Park that International Rules tours will restart this year with the visit of the Australians in October. Next year, there will be an Irish junior tour around Easter and a senior tour in the autumn.
Present at the meeting were GAA president Joe McDonagh, director general Liam Mulvihill, marketing manager Dermot Power and Ian Collins, general manager of football operations of the Australian Football League. Yesterday afternoon the Australian Youths defeated their Irish counterparts in what can now be seen as the first tour of the revived series.
Speaking in the Irish youths' dressingroom after yesterday's international, Joe McDonagh said the standard of the match "has made our deliberations tonight very easy".
It has been eight years since a senior tour took place, when Ireland visited Australia, and seven years since the Australian youths came here. The main difference between the proposed series and its predecessors, staged between 1984 and '90, is that it will be shorter. Only two test matches will be played and teams will be on tour for only 10 days rather than a month.
Mulvihill expressed himself as "delighted with the establishment of the series". This year's tests will be held on October 11th and 18th.
Pat Daly, games development and coaching officer of the GAA, and Kevin Sheehan, the AFL's National development manager, will be charged with supervising the drawing up of the International Rules, although major changes to the original 1983 document are not expected.
Speaking after the youth international earlier in the day, Daly put the case for International Rules.
"To have an international outlet is one big advantage. It's obvious from soundings we have taken from players that they require something like this, even demand it. If we're to have their loyalty on an ongoing basis, it's important that people who reach the pinnacle, be they underage or adult players, can express themselves on an international platform."
As regards the influence of the international connection on Gaelic football, he said: "Anything that can be adapted to improve the game will be considered by the Football Development Committee. Based on their reflections, there may be ideas on what can be adapted. "The significant difference between that (International Rules) is if you're caught in possession you lose the ball. There are two opinions about the tackle in football, one that it is a tackle on the ball or two, that the lack of a tackle is the greatest flaw in the game.
"If you introduce a more physical type of tackle, are you increasing the risk of injury? That's something has to be looked at. But the guy not in possession has to have a legitimate way of getting ball from the guy who is."
Connacht and Ireland youth coach John Tobin was enthusiastic after his team's defeat.
"For a guy to have the opportunity to get on the Irish team is fantastic. They came here, saw our culture and it would be great for our fellas to go back. I'm sorry the conditions weren't good. The game mightn't have looked that good. But the games in Limerick and Tuam were fast-moving games of football.
"One other thing is that the referee is rarely contentious, because the ball is moving, there's no time to complain. When we played some minor teams they were happy with the tackle. Some pulling is dubious but when you know you're going to be tackled you move the ball. I hope the game goes forward, that it doesn't stop."
His Australian counterpart Kevin Morris was in agreement. "That was a high class game of football. If that didn't excite punters in the stand, I don't know what will. I believe the administration of the AFL and GAA are holding talks to continue at junior and senior and I don't think any harm was done today."
