Hurling News: The controversial issue of UCD's participation in the Dublin senior hurling club championship will be discussed at next month's Dublin county committee meeting as a motion calling for amendments to Rule 32 has been tabled.

The motion - put forward by St Joseph's/OCB GAA club - makes no mention of removing third-level institutions from the club championship but does seek several changes which would weaken the current UCD player base.

It calls for the exclusion of players from the Dublin county championship if their local club reaches the county final. If the motion was passed in Dublin - and subsequently at Congress - postgraduate players and those pursuing a second primary degree would not be permitted to play in the Dublin championship for UCD.

The year's grace afforded to a player who has already graduated would also be abolished. In addition, a player starting studies in the current year could not join the championship panel. This stipulation would prevent a student who enters a third-level institution in September lining out for the college in the ongoing championship.

Significantly, the motion calls for players to be given no choice between playing for their college or their local club should a clash arise.

Again, if passed, this may have long-term effects on the type of player offered GAA scholarships to third level.

Part of the motion reads: "A player shall not play in, a) two county senior championship finals or b) two county under-21 championship finals, of the same code of a competition year and should his college club and his own club win their respective county senior championships of the same code of a competition year he must opt to play for his own club in the provincial club championship."

"The rights accorded, in (i) to (iv) above, to a university student or a student of a recognised Higher Education college shall not apply where he has previously graduated with a primary degree from a university or a recognised Higher Education college."

A spokesperson for St Joseph's/OCD, Declan Hallisey, confirmed that he had been in contact with the captains of the seven Dublin clubs who recently threatened strike action over the issue of UCD's participation, and received their support for the motion.

If passed at Dublin county committee level, the motion will be put to congress next year for formal ratification. Such an eventuality would severely affect the availability of members of the current UCD team who were beaten in the Leinster club hurling final last week by James Stephens.