The GAA's Director-General, Liam Mulvihill, has tempered reports that the International Rules series could make a return next year.
Speaking at the publication of his Annual Report to Congress today, Mulvihill said that while the organisation will hold discussions with the AFL about the possible resumption of the controversial series, there is a lot of talking to be done before anything is decided.
Central Council decided to scrap the series scheduled for 2007 in Australia after the on-field violence that marred last year's matches, particularly the Second Test in Croke Park.
In his report, the Director-General says that last year's games with Australia were 'hugely disappointing'.
At Croke Park this morning, he added that the AFL's attitude and their implementation of the rules is 'critical' if the hybrid game is to have any future.
He seemed to lay the blame for the incidents squarely at the feet of Australian manager Kevin Sheedy. He said that when the pressure is on for a result in a Second Test, Australian managers 'tend to lose the run of themselves'.
In relation to punishment for ill-discipline, Mulvihill said there needs to be a 'real penalty' on the player(s) involved and the people in charge.
Mulvihill also feels that a review of the rules is needed, after claiming that they are 'loaded in their (the Australians') favour'.
He claimed that the only different element the Australian Rules players have to cope with is the round ball. The DG went on to say that excessive use of the handpass has 'spoiled' the International game.
His comments came after GAA President Nickey Brennan said he believes the desire for an International Rules series still exists, following positive feedback from players and management, but major rule changes will be required.
'The team management and the players were always keen to keep it going,' Brennan, who also attended the Annual Report media briefing at Headquarters, told today's The Irish Times.
Séamus Leonard
