The official return to training date for inter-county GAA players has been set for 21 November but the Gaelic Players Association has strongly reiterated the need for a six-week break between the end of club commitments and any resumption of inter-county duties.
With several 2026 pre-season competitions set to get the go-ahead, GPA CEO Tom Parsons has said that the decision was made despite his organisation challenging the need for such competitions.
"Particularly given the concerns repeatedly raised around player welfare," he wrote in a message to GPA members.
"It is disappointing that, at a time when player welfare is being discussed as a priority and when noise is being made to reduce the costs of the inter-county game, the season is now being extended once again by the reintroduction of pre-season competitions. This runs contrary to much of the recent commentary on protecting player wellbeing and managing workloads responsibly."
In his note, Parsons outlined that a return to training date has been agreed by Croke Park.
"The GAA has set the official return to training for male players as November 21st, providing six weeks in the lead up to the first competitive games which are permitted from January 3rd, 2026," he wrote.
"Whilst teams may collectively gather for screening purposes before 21 November, all other activity should be conducted on an individual or pod basis until that date.
"The GPA is calling on all county managers – and we will be engaging directly with them – to ensure that every player receives a minimum of six-weeks break between the conclusion of their club commitments and the commencement of collective training.
"Whether this requires a staggered or tiered return to training, that must be facilitated. Player recovery and rest periods cannot be compromised."
The GPA has recently stressed that it would like pre-season tournaments limited to development players with established players only returning to formal training from December.
But with the McKenna Cup returning to Ulster GAA next season - and other provinces also close to marking the return of some pre-season fare - it remains to be seen what the playing criteria, if any, for those competitions is.
Last year saw some provincial officials raise their objection to the pre-season hiatus due to loss of finances for their councils and counties.
Connacht GAA CEO John Prenty reckoned that without the FBD League, his provincial unit lost in the region of €100,000 through gate receipts and sponsorship.
Ulster GAA feel they may have lost in the region of three times that this year.
