Fervently we must hope that the Gaelic Athletic Association is keeping a weather eye on events pertaining to the state of the game of rugby union in Ireland right now. As a team of young Irishmen take the road to Paris this weekend it seems to this observer that no Irish team in the long history of the game has travelled less hopefully.
No matter where Irish teams have gone in the past they have always clung to the idea that something might happen which would give them a chance of success. On this occasion nobody can foresee anything less than a thrashing.
There are lessons in this situation for the GAA. Those of us who spoke against the introduction of professionalism to rugby union take no pleasure whatever in being right. Irish rugby is in a deep slough of despondency both on and off the pitch just now even though the domestic club scene seems healthy and vibrant. That situation has been brought about by the introduction of pay-for-play.
So what are the lessons which the GAA must learn? The first is that any form of professionalism of the Rugby Union sort must be resisted at all costs.
The GAA is fortunate in that it does not have to cope with outside influences such as those with which Irish rugby had to cope with and, for that reason, the future is firmly in the hands of the GAA itself. Yet there are straws in the wind which suggest that some people would wish to introduce a system which would allow players to be paid for their on-the-field activities.
The GAA has always prided itself on being based on the parish and that has been its glory. Nothing could represent a greater danger to the basic fabric of the GAA than an attack on such a base.
As things stand the GAA is very heavily dependent on the voluntary work of individuals. The vast majority of those are not deeply involved at a high level of administration.
The introduction of any form of professionalism would amount to an attack on such a base and that is why the GAA, at the highest level, must be vigilant.
It is only natural, and indeed understandable, that many players are asking: "What am I getting out of this?"
In most cases the answer to that question is: "Nothing but personal satisfaction". There are many others whose names and photographs never appear in the media who can ask the same question and get the same answer.
Everyone will agree that players, coaches, trainers, managers and many others should be treated fairly, even generously. Everyone will agree that all out-of-pocket expenses must be paid, that players are fed and looked after properly and that success on the field should be rewarded in appropriate ways such as the provision of holidays or trips abroad. There must be an acceptance that clothing and playing gear should be provided and that there should always be an understanding of problems which players have in their private lives. What happened in rugby, however, was that, not only were players being signed up on contracts but also that, in England particularly, clubs were sold and bought by people whose interest in rugby had more to do with making money than promoting the game.
The GAA should not be complacent.
