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 International
Rules 2003
Three tests next time 01/11/03
An extension of the International Rules series by ten years, the restoration of
three-match series and a change in the match format to incorporate four quarters
of 15 minutes each are among the considerations which GAA and AFL officials will
take back to their members after talks this week. The current
deal is due to expire in 2005 but both the GAA and the AFL are anxious to commit
themselves to a much longer arrangement so that both can put the International
Rules series on a more permanent footing. Both sides are delighted with the manner
in which the link-up has worked, not least in terms of public interest.
A crowd of 60,245 packed into the MCG last night to bring the total attendance
for this year's two tests to over 100,000, while 115,000 watched last year's two
games in Croke Park. The series has become a major attraction in both Ireland
and Australia and, with crowds continuing to grow, it's clearly a big cash cow
for the associations. It would become even more lucrative
if it were extended to three games, as was the case in the 1984-1990 period. It
was cut to two when the competition resumed in 1998 but there is now a feeling
that three tests, played over a ten day period, would be better. "Australia won
in Perth, we won in Melbourne so imagine the atmosphere if it was all to be decided
in a third test," said Irish manager John O'Keeffe. Both
the GAA and AFL are conscious of the time constraints involved in staging three
games but a compromise could be reach by staging them over a ten day period, rather
than on successive weekends. Consideration will also be given to cutting the duration
of games from four 20-minute quarters to four 15-minute quarters. There
is a growing feeling that the Australians, all of whom are full-time professionals,
have an advantage with the longer game - as was shown last night.
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