Nemo Rangers are to be investigated by the Cork county board after the Irish rugby team trained at their state-of-the-art facilities last month.

Under GAA rules, clubs are barred from allowing rugby or soccer teams to use their facilities, even though GAA teams regularly use the facilities of rugby and soccer clubs. GAA clubs are liable to automatic suspension for allowing rugby or soccer teams to use their property.

Croke Park has now asked Cork chiefs to investigate the circumstances which led to Declan Kidney's squad training at Nemo's facilities.

A well-placed source told the Irish Examiner: "There was a short (management committee) discussion and it was decided that a letter would be sent to the Cork county board to look into what happened in Nemo Rangers last month.

"It has to be ascertained how the arrangement came about, who made the first contact and what was involved. The Nemo issue is the only one which is being followed up. No one else is being contacted regarding the use of club grounds and facilities by other sports."

Last week, GAA president Christy Cooney suggested the issue of non-GAA sports on GAA facilities was something the Association 'have to monitor'.

He said: "I don't think Nemo are the only club under the microscope, we'll have to look at that whole situation and how we are going to manage it. There's a rule there and we are very clear on our rules with regard to the use of association property and there is no change on that. It's something we have to monitor. I think it's on a very limited basis. We'll look at it very closely before we come out and condemn and criticise and make sure that we are being fair and balanced on clubs." Tweet

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