Semple Stadium set to host Inter-provincial Hurling return
By Shane Brophy
FBD Semple Stadium in Thurles is set to host a revived inter-provincial hurling championship as part of the Hurling Expert Advisory Groups (HEAG) trial rules process.
Munster and Leinster are earmarked to play each other at the Field of Legends on Saturday, November 28th with the match set to be shown live on RTE, similar when the Football Advisory Group held their trial rules with an inter-provincial series at Croke Park.
Depending on weather conditions, the other semi-final between Connacht and Ulster might well be played at FBD Semple Stadium also or possibly at another venue to be determined closer to the date.
The trialling of the 24 amendments has already begun in the third level Fitzgibbon Hurling League over the past week. Some of the key amendments include:
• Extend the power of line umpires to provide assistance to referees
• Handpass requires a clear and definite strike with the hand
• Two consecutive handpasses is not permitted
• Sliotar can be carried for maximum of six steps in the hand
• To use your arms to tie up an opponent is not permitted
• Throw-ins to start a half to be contested by one player off each team in midfield
• Puck outs must travel at least 45 metres. Minimum of three players from each team must remain between 20m and 45m lines for puck outs
• A 65m puck to be taken from the 65m line nearest your own goal
• Two points awarded for a sideline struck cleanly over the bar
• One maor foirne per team to be permitted to enter the field during breaks in play
At a media briefing in Croke Park last week, HEAG Chairperson, John Meyler, outlined his hope that the trials will give his committee a better idea of what potential rule changes could improve the game.
“We want to see a good flow to the game,” he said.
“That the hurling flows from one end of the field to the other. That there's a consistency in refereeing decisions across the games. That players, coaches, and public experienced a valued game.
“There will be tactical consequences of what we do. There's going to be a ripple effect that if we bring a recommendation, it will have a knock-on effect on something else and we need to be aware of that. If recommendations work, we'll hopefully get them in. If recommendations don't work, we'll bin them.
Also at the briefing, it was revealed that 42 per cent of rucks are caused by tackling and it’s hoped that by clamping down on spare arm tackling the frequency of such rucks can be reduced.
By increasing the steps allowed to six from four, it’s hoped that players will be able to break free from rucks into open space where they can release possession cleanly.
Thrown handpasses tend to occur in the pressurised environment of ruck scenarios so less rucks should hopefully mean less fouled hand-passes.
A prohibition on two consecutive hand-passes should also make the handpass easier to referee.