Wexford captain Darren Stamp has put the boot into GAA authorities for rule changes which make hurling a "sissies' game like soccer".

The Oulart-the-Ballagh man, Wexford's first-choice centre back in recent years, has built his game on robust physical foundations.

But Stamp believes the rough-and-tumble of hurling, so traditional to the GAA and a favourite with supporters everywhere, has been placed in danger by over-officious "eejits" in Croke Park.

In a piece by Jackie Cahill which appears in the Irish Independent and Irish Examiner on Tuesday, the 30-year-old said, "These men in Croke Park are a crowd of eejits - they haven't a clue. They're sitting down every couple of years making up stupid rules that are killing hurling.

"A lad might be trying to take the ball off a fella by flicking it away but a tip on the hand or hurl is a yellow card.

"You don't see big tackles or shoulders anymore. You're afraid of your life going into a tackle for fear of getting a yellow card.

"You can't hit a lad a shoulder any more [because if you do] it's a free. The 50-50 shoulder has gone out the window. It's nearly a sissies' game, a bit like soccer. The manliness is gone out of it." Tweet

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