Horan Confirms No Rushed Decision on GAA Return

Wherever it came from, the idea that the GAA was planning to facilitate Inter-County teams returning to training amid an exclusive testing regime has been knocked firmly on the head today by GAA President John Horan.

“We have taken guidance from the health authorities throughout and will continue to do so he said in an interview with Sean O’Rourke on RTÉ Radio.

“Until they declare that contact sport is safe we will not be playing games and when we do return the club scene, where 98 per cent of our activity takes place, will be the focus.”

The concept of a return to training was popping up in a variety of places over the weekend but without any authoritative voice from the GAA which meant we avoided writing about it this morning.

While it is plausible as a concept and is along the same lines as other sports in other countries are planning for a professional sport to return, the idea of prioritising healthy players for testing when there is a finite capacity just sounds out of step with how the GAA would operate and society in a wider context would likely demand.

The challenges it would bring for amateur sports stars, as opposed to those whose clubs and sports could sequester them in five-star yachts to maintain segregation id that was needed, just look insurmountable and that’s even if you wanted to try.

Yes everyone wants the return of sport in all its forms but not at any price and certainly not if it was seen as getting in the way of the greater societal need.

Horan went on to outline that a potential reshaping of the calendar across 2020 and 2021 could be looked at.

“I think there is a hunger out there among spectators and players,” he added.

“There will not be a flick of a switch though and there will be a structured timeline of a return to games, once that becomes something that is right to look at.”

Sport for Business will host an informal meeting for Members tomorrow morning, April 28th at 11 AM to look at a number of the scenarios that are being planned for around a return to sporting activities. This session is now full.