Players not keen on taking gap year

Australia (44) Ireland (45):THE IRELAND and Australia International Rules camps have reacted negatively to the proposals unveiled on Wednesday to build a gap year into the International Rules series' schedules. Under the proposal put forward by the AFL and GAA, but still awaiting the approval of Central Council, there would be a three-year cycle with one series in each country and every third year left blank.

"I've always been a huge supporter of this game," said Ireland captain Seán Cavanagh at yesterday's media conference at the MCG before today's second Test.

"Whenever you do get a chance to pull on an Irish jersey and play with the best players in Ireland, it's something special. I've now won three All-Irelands with Tyrone and I probably still say my proudest moment would be standing in Melbourne in 2005 with the Irish squad, even though we were heavily beaten, and also heavily beaten in the first Test.

"It was an immense pride to see tricolours around the stadium and hear 40,000 Irish singing the national anthem. As Brent (Harvey, Australia captain) said, you might never get the chance to do this again and to me it's something special and it is to 99 per cent of Gaelic footballers. No matter what anyone says it's a chance to put on an Irish jersey and I want to see it played every year."

His Australia counterpart Harvey also expressed his disappointment. "Getting the chance to represent your country is a fantastic honour and you might not get the chance two years later because of injury or form or whatever."

Australia and Collingwood coach Mick Malthouse hadn't even been aware of the proposal for reduced frequency and disagreed with it. "I've got to say that that's the first I've heard of it and I'd be disappointed quite frankly. I'm disappointed now knowing how the players feel about it and how they want to play it."

Finally, Ireland manager Seán Boylan emphasised the historical links between the countries. "Players want to play. They want to play for their country. This game played well is a great game. For us we're playing against probably the greatest sporting nation in the world, they probably have the greatest facilities in the world, they're the greatest competitors in the world and you want to play against the very best.

"There's also a kindred thing there as well with the number of Irish people over the centuries, who have come here, lived here. This is their home but they never forget where they come from either. Even in the boom times at home in the last decade you still have a lot of Irish people who came here and were made to feel welcome. It's like home from home . . . "

On the subject of who might manage Ireland next year, given the assumption that teams will have the same management for both years of the proposed new cycle, Boylan diplomatically said that he wanted to get the second Test out of the way first. This is the Meathman's second year in charge and none of his predecessors have served for more than two series.

At the earlier media briefing GAA president Nickey Brennan also hesitated before committing on the matter, as he will hand over the reins of office to successor Christy Cooney next April.

"There is an issue there but I am not the president next year, but Páraic (Duffy) and I will talk to Christy when we get home. There is an issue, the logic being that maybe the same management team will stay in place, but that it is for Christy to deal with because it is on his watch, because I am not president next year I do not want to get into it."