TonyK
CibbuanoIrish deliver Rules ultimatum
May 15th 2008 01:19
IRELAND have told the AFL to get the dates sorted by next Friday for the International Rules series or forget it.
Although AFL and Irish officials have agreed in principle that the series will resume in Australia this October, confusion reigns.
The AFL already has the MCG pencilled in, but is struggling to find another suitable venue.
With the Rugby League World Cup and cricket set to take over the major sporting venues, there is growing speculation that the AFL is leaning towards a one-off Test match against Ireland.
However Ireland will not bother to travel to Australia for one game, with the Irish govering body, the GAA, giving the AFL until Friday, May 23, to find another venue.
The International Rules series has not been played since 2006, when the Irish left Croke Park follwing several fiery on-field incidents. The concept was revived after extensive talks in Dubai in January.
GAA director general Paraic Duffy has admitted he is "anxious" about the immediate future of the series and said the series would only continue if two matches were played.
"We would have hoped by now to be in a position to name dates and venues, but we're not," Duffy said.
"We agreed to resume on the basis of a two-game series, but some weeks ago the AFL made soundings to play one game only because of difficulty with rugby league World Cup and cricket.
"We made it clear to them we're not interested in travelling to Australia for one game.
"The AFL is aware of our deadline. We must have categorical dates and venues by Friday week because there is an enormous amount of work in terms of team management and logistics."
Although AFL and Irish officials have agreed in principle that the series will resume in Australia this October, confusion reigns.
The AFL already has the MCG pencilled in, but is struggling to find another suitable venue.
With the Rugby League World Cup and cricket set to take over the major sporting venues, there is growing speculation that the AFL is leaning towards a one-off Test match against Ireland.
However Ireland will not bother to travel to Australia for one game, with the Irish govering body, the GAA, giving the AFL until Friday, May 23, to find another venue.
The International Rules series has not been played since 2006, when the Irish left Croke Park follwing several fiery on-field incidents. The concept was revived after extensive talks in Dubai in January.
GAA director general Paraic Duffy has admitted he is "anxious" about the immediate future of the series and said the series would only continue if two matches were played.
"We would have hoped by now to be in a position to name dates and venues, but we're not," Duffy said.
"We agreed to resume on the basis of a two-game series, but some weeks ago the AFL made soundings to play one game only because of difficulty with rugby league World Cup and cricket.
"We made it clear to them we're not interested in travelling to Australia for one game.
"The AFL is aware of our deadline. We must have categorical dates and venues by Friday week because there is an enormous amount of work in terms of team management and logistics."
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