Hurling expert advisory group to begin review of the game on Sunday in Thurles

The new hurling expert advisory group, chaired by former Cork manager John Meyler, will meet for the first time this Sunday in the billiards room of Hayes Hotel, Thurles.

The group are working with the Games Intelligence Unit (GIU) and will make recommendations based on their data, including the possibility of rule changes for hurling. They will convene in the same room where the founding members established the Gaelic Athletic Association in 1884.

While there is a broad acceptance that hurling does not require the level of intervention seen in Gaelic football recently, the Football Review Committee did provide a template for this sort of process and the hurling group will conduct sandbox games if necessary later this year.

The GAA’s National Head of Hurling Willie Maher is also on the committee. 

Maher has consistently advocated for developing an accurate picture of the game and its trends, particularly the number of handpasses, rucks and short puckouts.

There are several stakeholders represented on the committee which also includes former Kilkenny star Richie Hogan, Galway’s All-Ireland winning under-age manager Jeff Lynskey, former All-Ireland SHC final referee John Keenan, Hurling Development Committee chairman Terry Reilly, former Offaly hurler Rory Hanniffy and former Wexford star Ursula Jacob.

As well as establishing the GIU on a permanent basis, the remit was expanded to hurling this year under the lead of Dr Michael McKay of the Royal College of Surgeons, Ireland and a research associate at the University of Ulster.

In 2025, the GIU provided data and statistical analysis for the FRC as they monitored the impact of the new rules. 

They also supplied data and video analysis to inter-county referees and strengthened relationships within the Performance Analysis community through shared video footage.

There are hopes that the GIU could become a powerful promotional tool for hurling as well. S

ports like basketball and the NFL have used statistical analysis and video footage to enhance fan engagement and deepen understanding of the game.

GAA president Jarlath Burns has also charged Kevin McStay with heading up a Gaelic football expert group. 

That includes Kerry legend Maurice Fitzgerald, referee David Coldrick, former Galway player John Tobin, Monaghan’s Conor McManus, former Croke Park referees manager and FRC member Patrick Doherty, GIU football lead Johnny Bradley and National Participation and Séamus Kenny, the Programmes manager for the GAA.

Meanwhile, a Ladies Gaelic Football Association Special Congress has voted through the package of 12 playing rule enhancements trialled during the 2026 Lidl National League season and Higher Education Colleges competitions.

The suite of changes will now be enacted into rule and apply instantly for all adult intercounty championships at provincial and national levels.

What were previously trial rules were warmly received by players, coaches and match officials alike and were rubberstamped by delegates in Tullamore last evening.

Six of the 12 changes mirrored the GAA Football Review Committee’s rule enhancements in the men’s game.

They are the kickout mark, the two-point scoring arc, the requirement to keep three players in the opposition half at all times, the solo and go, and frees being brought forward for tactical fouling or dissent from the sideline.

The six other rule changes looked specifically at current LGFA rules, including those related to the tackle, with the overall aim of ensuring that the playing rules of the game are fair, consistent, inclusive, and reflective of the modern development of the sport.

The LGFA had established a Playing Rules Review Workgroup to conduct a comprehensive examination of current rules, to identify areas for improvement, and to recommend changes for consideration.

The workgroup was headed up by former LGFA President Mícheál Naughton, who was joined by former Leitrim star Maeve Quinn, inter-county referees Jonathan Murphy and Siobhán Coyle, current inter-county players Caroline O’Hanlon (Armagh) and Danielle Caldwell (Mayo), and former players Mary Jo Curran (Kerry) and Fiona Claffey (Westmeath).

Former Dublin manager Mick Bohan and AIB All-Ireland Senior Club Championship winning manager Willie Ward (Kilkerrin-Clonberne, Galway) were also Workgroup members, along with Dr Siobhán O’Connor from Dublin City University, from a Medical/Player Welfare/Research viewpoint, and LGFA CEO, Lyn Savage.

A comprehensive survey collated views from a number of stakeholders, with almost 3,000 responses gathered.

The feedback reflected a strong desire for a change in the tackle but not full physicality, and innovations that promote speed, skill, and attacking football, while maintaining fairness and player welfare.

The Playing Rules Review Workgroup proposed that the package of playing rule enhancements to be piloted in the Lidl National Football League and HEC competitions only – and they were then reviewed after Round 3 of the 2026 Lidl NFL.

Following the conclusion of the Leagues last weekend, motions were brought forward to Special Congress and strongly approved.

The new playing rules will be implemented as follows:

Applying instantly for all adult intercounty championships at provincial and national levels.

In 2027 for juvenile intercounty championships as these competitions have all commenced for the current year of 2026.

In 2027 for the All-Ireland U20 Championship as this is commencing in the coming week.

Counties do not need to implement the new playing rules for any competitions already commenced in their counties but they have the option to do this if ratified at their county board meetings.

The new playing rules must be implemented for all U18 club championships that have not already commenced or that will commence within this month and for all adult club championships in 2026, including adult club championship in Britain and Europe.

From 2027, the new playing rules must be implemented across all competitions from U13 to adult.

The new rules must be implemented from the 2026-2027 academic year for Post Primary Schools and Higher Education competitions.

International Units do not need to implement the new playing rules until 2027, except adult championship listed above, but they have the option to do this if ratified at their board meetings.