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International Rules

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Replying To Kew: ""There is a genuine desire on both sides to continue strengthening the relationship, particularly around supporting Irish players pursuing opportunities in Australia, and we're excited about what further collaboration between our two organisations could look like." Sounds like the gaa will be working with the AFL to put in structures for players moving." A sceptical person could suggest there are sweeteners involved… Looks like this is only the tip of the iceberg of our most talented youngsters heading to Aus. It could accelerate…! Fionn (Dublin) - Posts: 5322 - 16/10/2026 09:51:08 2697497 Link
Replying To Fionn: "A sceptical person could suggest there are sweeteners involved… Looks like this is only the tip of the iceberg of our most talented youngsters heading to Aus. It could accelerate…!" Reports in Australia this morning say that the International Rules series will return next year after a 10-year break. The Herald Sun is reporting that the series will take place next year in Ireland with a follow-up series in Australia the year after. It's a very interesting development in light of the controversy over AFL clubs signing GAA players. Kew (Galway) - Posts: 454 - 17/10/2026 12:01:11 2697618 Link
Replying To Kew: "Reports in Australia this morning say that the International Rules series will return next year after a 10-year break. The Herald Sun is reporting that the series will take place next year in Ireland with a follow-up series in Australia the year after. It's a very interesting development in light of the controversy over AFL clubs signing GAA players." Its not a controversy for everyone Viking66 (Wexford) - Posts: 20852 - 17/10/2026 12:12:00 2697622 Link
Replying To Viking66: "Its not a controversy for everyone" The cynic in me would think the Aussies will view it as a glorified scouting operation, while some GAA players will see it as an opportunity to put their hands up for an AFL contract. I appreciate the arguments,the chance at a pro contract, best of luck to players who leave etc and maybe i need to be a bit more open minded but i hate watchng our players leave for another sport. At the moment its kind of a drip drip scenario with only a few players leaving but it could become a deluge. If GAA players are cheaper to rope in and if it costs teams less to secure their signatures and train them (it literally costs the afl nothing to develop our players) then who knows how bad this could get. Seniorleague (Galway) - Posts: 386 - 17/10/2026 12:39:29 2697629 Link
Replying To Viking66: "Its not a controversy for everyone" It doesn't have to be for it to be controversial.. hopefully this is just the AFL putting out a headline because of the rugby league world cup as it's a silly game which Ireland gain nothing from. Kew (Galway) - Posts: 454 - 17/10/2026 13:00:15 2697633 Link
AFL won't be recruiting lads who will play for Ireland in the International Rules (if it returns). They'll be too old (and some will be there already) Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 978 - 17/10/2026 15:18:10 2697650 Link
Replying To Seanfan: "AFL won't be recruiting lads who will play for Ireland in the International Rules (if it returns). They'll be too old (and some will be there already)" Nail on head.No worries about the Irish players that take part in the compromise rules.,Its the young lads the Aussies are watching. brayballer (Wicklow) - Posts: 805 - 19/10/2026 17:44:06 2697934 Link
This circus has had its day. No thanks. No room in the calendar anyway. yew_tree (Mayo) - Posts: 12297 - 20/10/2026 07:34:18 2697973 Link
Replying To brayballer: "Nail on head.No worries about the Irish players that take part in the compromise rules.,Its the young lads the Aussies are watching." While true for most of the players playing there will be some young lads that will be put on show. For arguments sake, if the mutant borefest rules game had been still an annual thing, it is highly likely Finbarr Roarty would have been on an Irish panel last year, the Aussies would have got a really good idea how suited he is to the game. As it happens they went after him anyway. Would Oisin Mullin gave been 22 when he left for AFL? He was YPOTY and would definitely have made an Irish panel. There are a few in that 19-22 age bracket that could potentially be on an Irish panel if there was a game this year, aside from Kobe McDonald and Roarty this year you had the likes of Charlie McMorrow and Dara McDonnell who may have got called up. The big question that has to be asked is why the Aussies are so keen to get this back up and running. On the face of it why would a professional game in a niche sport restricted to Australia be so eager to get back playing a mixed rules game with an amateur niche sport restricted to Ireland? What is in it for them, it can't be a huge money spinner, there's no global tv rights to be sold and millions wanting to see it, sponsorship revenue would be small beans as well. I think they see this as a networking strategy for recruitment. Yes the shop window for young lads in the games is small but it is also an advertising board for young lads watching the games, it also gives the Aussies access to players and people on the GAA scene when they are over, no doubt there'll be functions and all that goes with that. They might even see it as a way to recruit scouts and get more eyes on the ground here. Getting Irish lads over is a shot to nothing for them, even if they only find a success in one in four, they're all categorised as Category B rookies. The GAA need to be very wary, there's a major power imbalance and if Kobe wins the award this year, that means 3 YPOTY will have been lost in the space of 4 or 5 years. That is the top up and coming talent. FullOfPorter (Roscommon) - Posts: 626 - 20/10/2026 10:45:28 2697985 Link
Replying To FullOfPorter: "While true for most of the players playing there will be some young lads that will be put on show. For arguments sake, if the mutant borefest rules game had been still an annual thing, it is highly likely Finbarr Roarty would have been on an Irish panel last year, the Aussies would have got a really good idea how suited he is to the game. As it happens they went after him anyway. Would Oisin Mullin gave been 22 when he left for AFL? He was YPOTY and would definitely have made an Irish panel. There are a few in that 19-22 age bracket that could potentially be on an Irish panel if there was a game this year, aside from Kobe McDonald and Roarty this year you had the likes of Charlie McMorrow and Dara McDonnell who may have got called up. The big question that has to be asked is why the Aussies are so keen to get this back up and running. On the face of it why would a professional game in a niche sport restricted to Australia be so eager to get back playing a mixed rules game with an amateur niche sport restricted to Ireland? What is in it for them, it can't be a huge money spinner, there's no global tv rights to be sold and millions wanting to see it, sponsorship revenue would be small beans as well. I think they see this as a networking strategy for recruitment. Yes the shop window for young lads in the games is small but it is also an advertising board for young lads watching the games, it also gives the Aussies access to players and people on the GAA scene when they are over, no doubt there'll be functions and all that goes with that. They might even see it as a way to recruit scouts and get more eyes on the ground here. Getting Irish lads over is a shot to nothing for them, even if they only find a success in one in four, they're all categorised as Category B rookies. The GAA need to be very wary, there's a major power imbalance and if Kobe wins the award this year, that means 3 YPOTY will have been lost in the space of 4 or 5 years. That is the top up and coming talent." That happened even though there were no Internationals for 9 or 10 years. Seanfan (Roscommon) - Posts: 978 - 20/10/2026 11:28:11 2697993 Link
Balls.ie have brought up something interesting about GAA players getting paid to play this? Inter-county players are not compensated financially for their efforts, something that fits within the amateur ethos of the GAA. However, it would be interesting to see how that situation would be handled in any International Rules return. If their opposite numbers are receiving up to €25,000 to take part, would it be unreasonable for GAA players to expect a similar return? This is no doubt something that will have to be agreed upon before the potential return of the series next year Kew (Galway) - Posts: 454 - 20/10/2026 13:17:53 2698009 Link