Mouthguards to be made compulsory in all levels of Gaelic football by 2014

Video

• Mouthguards to become compulsory in Gaelic football

Audio

• Donegal captain Michael Murphy is not in favour of the proposed new rules for Gaelic football
• Oral surgeon Cliff Beirne on the GAA's new mouthguard rule

The wearing of mouthguards across all grades of football will be compulsory by January 2014, the GAA has announced.

However, from January next, mouthguards must be worn during football matches and training for all underage grades including minor.

Figures show that Ireland has one of the highest rates of sport-related oral injuries in the EU.

GAA president Liam O'Neill said that 98% of delegates voted in favour of the proposal at this year's Annual Congress.

Gaelic Players Association chief executive Dessie Farrell welcomed the announcement.

He said: “It is an extremely important step for player welfare and brings our games into line with best practice in other codes.”