The Oz Factor

The Oz Factor
The Oz Factor

When: Sunday - 9pm
Where: RTÉ Two and RTÉ.ie (Ireland only)

CLICK HERE FOR GAA MEDIA PLAYER

The Oz Factor tells the story of controversial Aussie Rules agent Ricky Nixon's quest to poach the GAA of their best and brightest players to the sunshine and dollars of the Australian Football League (AFL). From an initial list of 80, Nixon trawls through the best young Gaelic footballers in Ireland to see who could make it as a pro in Oz and in the process stirs up plenty of controversy amongst followers of Ireland's national sport.

Nixon was followed in his quest for over a year and in this series viewers find out who is prepared to leave the amateur sport they grew up with and who is good enough to take the chance to fulfil their dream of becoming a professional sportsman. With GAA legend Mickey Harte as the voice of Ireland's national code and Nixon's determination to take only the best from the sport, there is no shortage of fireworks.

PROGRAMME 1 - WATCH NOW (Ireland only)
In the first episode, Nixon arrives in Ireland with representatives of AFL clubs to set up recruitment trials. He faces the media to answer questions about his practices while his chosen group of GAA players are brought to a training camp in Castlebar and put through their paces to see if they have what it takes to be selected for trials in Australia.

PROGRAMME 2 - WATCH NOW (Ireland only)
In tonight's episode, Ricky puts the GAA players through their paces and while many impress, only those chosen head out to Australia for further trials with an AFL team. With barely a chance to rest, the boys are tested even further against professional sportsmen and in soaring temperatures.

PROGRAMME 3 - WATCH NOW (Ireland only)
The final programme in the series sees a surprise visit to Australia by two more star GAA players, which Nixon is thrilled about. What they make of the opporunities of an AFL life is another question.

Prime Time: The GAA

Katie Hannon reports on problems facing the GAA with violence on pitches and secret manager payments

John Mullane and Paul Flynn

John Mullane dismisses rumours that he is to retire from inter-county hurling, while Paul Flynn discusses Lar Corbett's decision to quit

Corbett Quits

Journalist Vincent Hogan reacts to the news that Lar Corbett has quit inter-county hurling

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