Sport

GAA must adapt if it's to halt rugby's popularity surge

Ireland's campaign in the Rugby World Cup captivated the nation  
Ireland's campaign in the Rugby World Cup captivated the nation   Ireland's campaign in the Rugby World Cup captivated the nation  

RARELY has any Irish team in sporting history been so close to becoming one of the best in the world as the Irish rugby side.

Whether you like rugby or not, most GAA enthusiasts would see similarities between it and Gaelic football. When you consider further that a great deal of modern GAA training methods have been transferred from rugby origins, it is easy to see the appeal, particularly given that rugby is professional.

Rugby has become the number one sport of choice in Ireland and the viewing figures for the Ireland v France game when compared to the All-Ireland football final make for interesting reading. Over 200,000 more people tuned into Ireland v France than watched the Dublin v Kerry showpiece on the third Sunday in September.

The nation has been left somewhat shocked and disappointed by the defeat to Argentina. The injuries which rocked the squad, indeed the intensity of that game, were too much for a decimated squad reeling from the loss of so many experienced leaders. You cannot help but think that the second string, if played against France, would have given Ireland a game against the All-Blacks, with a full squad. As Scotland demonstrated against Australia, where there is a will there is a way.

It got me thinking whether taking such an approach to the Ulster Championship would leave a county any better off? Ulster is the toughest of all provinces, that’s a given. Tyrone were beaten in the preliminary round of Ulster this year by Donegal.

While entering the ‘back-door’ is a logistical nightmare, chances are that a good decent team, such as Tyrone, will inevitably be matched against opposition which will not have their pedigree. Especially with being drawn against teams outside Ulster in a Qualifier, you benefit from far more matches in a un-Ulster like spirit. The games are more open and you have the benefit of relative unfamiliarity in a fair amount of cases. Familiarity breeds contempt as the saying goes.

I think Down have now some kind of record. Over €1m spent on a great arena in Páirc Esler and we still cannot get a home draw in the Championship. You don’t get much harder than away to Monaghan in Clones. I remember 1999 in Newry when Down and Antrim met in the first round of the Ulster Championship. Down won, but Antrim got their revenge the year after in Casement Park.

Say what you want about an annual draw, but most people preferred a draw every other year, giving every team the chance to play at home once every two years. What is the point in Down, Armagh, Donegal or Fermanagh spending millions of pounds on stadia with no guarantee of a game? I suspect that, even if Down were given a toss of venue, we would still end up with playing away in a ‘best of three’ contest.

While a total overhaul of the structure is being proposed from numerous angles, put simply I want a home and away draw, with every county able to host a home game regularly.

It would do wonders for the GAA in Newry, Armagh city, Enniskillen or Ballybofey at a time when these large towns are struggling in terms of clubs playing at top senior level.


THE GAA has been the lifeblood of the Irish nation, with the association’s very existence borne by celebrating Irish culture. But most realise rugby is becoming so popular in this country that GAA participation is under threat.

The professionalism and draw of this way of life is as much an attraction as soccer, with the chance of making it a career increased, given our country’s size. Some say that even the game itself is becoming akin to rugby, given that handpassing and phases and turnovers have become part of its DNA.

The only way of competing with rugby is by offering the benefits of a career in the GAA. I was recently in the company of some very staunch GAA families and the debate started to rage on the benefits of Gaelic football. I have been extremely lucky to have had a relatively long career in the game and it has helped me socially and professionally. This may not be directly noticeable in the car we drive or bank balance but, indirectly, it has opened doors.

I was surprised that a wife of one of the staunch men said their young lad would be going to rugby. Simply put, the money was a huge attraction, the commitment the same and you were looked after much better. I had a basis for arguing the latter point. Most rugby clubs on a Saturday or Sunday morning would not have the same level of organisation, participation and volunteerism as our local GAA club, which are akin to a crèche at times.

Unless we can compete on the same level to rugby in this country, in terms of paying for playing then the competition for talent will surely be to rugby’s advantage. The GAA has always been strong when it comes to ‘ploughing its own furrow’.

The GAA is not rugby. While we may be inheriting a lot of their drills and competing for the same talent, we need to offer our own unique product regardless of the competition.

That could start with a home draw for each county every other year, even if the Championship is restructured. Believe it or not, there are 16-year-old boys and girls who have never witnessed a first round Championship match in Newry. At this rate, it may be another 16. There is more chance of a rugby game being played there at that rate. 

A simple rule change. This will do more for GAA participation in many parts of the country.