THE CLUB PLAYERS’ Association have confirmed their decision ‘unanimously to dissolve’ in the wake of the split season model being approved at GAA Congress last weekend.
The decision was made at an EGM of the CPA Executive on Monday. The group was established in 2016 and launched in 2017 with the aim to ‘fix the fixtures’.
The decision to rubber-stamp a county first split season model last weekend has prompted them to disband as they have realised that ambition.
The group has now called on GAA chiefs, directed by new President Larry McCarthy and Director-General Tom Ryan, to implement this fixtures plan.
The CPA announced the decision in a statement which reads in full:
“The Club Players’ Association Executive, at its Extraordinary General Meeting on 1 March 2021, decided unanimously to dissolve the CPA. The decision was taken in accordance with the CPA Constitution, and there were no dissenters.
“The CPA was established in 2016 and launched in 2017 by a group of GAA volunteers to lobby and campaign on the single issue of fixing the fixtures for all players. This was driven by alarm bells over GAA player participation and drop out levels. It was due to serious concerns related to players’ physical and mental wellbeing, because of the demands and uncertainty of the playing season.
“With Congress at the weekend making the historic decision to institute a split season model, the CPA Executive considers its task is now complete. The responsibility is now with GAA Management directed by An Uachtarán, Larry McCarthy and Ard Stiúrthóir, Tom Ryan, to implement Congress’s unanimous and democratic decision.
“And it is the role of club and county players and officials to monitor the delivery of the new Fixture arrangements and hold the Association accountable.
“Since 2017, the CPA has been central to keeping the fixtures debate in the public forum.
“We advocated a split season approach as a sensible, fair and logical solution to the fixtures issue, and we warmly welcome Congress’s decision, though overdue.
“A rising tide lifts all boats, and over recent years, despite the ebb and flow of debate, the tide of public opinion and the stream of discussion in the GAA has brought all parties to this destination. It is a time for optimism.
“Thank you to all players and GAA members who participated in surveys, sent us season models and ideas (all were read and given consideration), offered feedback, provided encouragement and constructive criticism.
“We are grateful for the contributions of our executive members past and present, including Declan Brennan. We also thank the GPA for their cooperation and support. Thanks to GAA management for the ongoing engagement. We are also grateful to the media for the opportunities and platforms to discuss and debate our ideas.
“We are a diverse group of GAA volunteers from different backgrounds in clubs across Ireland. We are brought together and united by our commitment to the Gaelic Athletic Association. We share a single-minded belief that the goal of a workable fixtures programme was achievable to make the GAA better as a sporting organisation.
“Our reasoning has always been that the right approach to fixtures would provide a vastly improved platform for participation in our games for all players at all levels. With that objective achieved, the time is right to step away.
“If other motivated individuals wish to champion another cause, the Joint Captains’ Association perhaps, that is their choice. We have played our part and our work is done.”
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When leo is acknowledging that Rob is not a good tackler the Leinster fans who see no wrong with rob are going to have to change their tune. It’s been a flaw of his for a long time and plenty of clips back it up.
@Bungee Aky: https://youtu.be/guecs1gwzC4
@Bungee Aky: where did Leo say that?
@John Molloy: he didnt. Its just Bungee spoofing again
@Ger: he didn’t outright say it, he defended robs poor defensive performance by saying he shouldn’t be in a position here he has to make a last line of defense tackle. He is hardly going to acknowledge the biggest weakness of one of his most senior players
@Bungee Aky: And you got from that that Leo thinks he is a poor tackler… Absolute rubbish
@Luke walkee: not I got it first from watching him miss most one on one tackles over the years. Then Leo deflected the question about his defense by questioning why we were put in that position.
@Bungee Aky: go to 3:40 on this for a really special effort. https://youtu.be/K2jh7__LAto
@Bungee Aky: I think he was talking about Kearney having to make a tackle in 40 metres of space on his own at one stage of the game.
@EK: so
@Bungee Aky: his brutal effort for teddy tomas… https://youtu.be/QHfKmfeTR0w
He shouldn’t start vs England. His performances don’t warrant a starting place and it sends out a bad message to players performing well who are passed over.
@OFFSZN: I don’t agree, because I don’t see who is ahead of him and available.
@OFFSZN: he’s come in from lengthy layoffs before and played brilliantly. Don’t see why it would be any different this time. England at Landsowne, he’ll be pushing hard to be ready you’d imagine
@OFFSZN: his performances, leadership and organisation for Ireland over the last year or two warrant him being selected. How he plays during the 6N will be interesting though. Granted, Ireland don’t concede many line breaks in the manner Leinster did, which helps his case, but if he has a slip up or two like he did against Scarletts then we might see Larmour/Conway/Addison starting in the WC. I’d personally like to see Conway. One thing was apparent, he’s lost his agility. He looked stuck in the mud against Scarletts. Maybe I’m wrong, but he’d be made bits of in a one on one against NZ or SA.
I’m a big fan of kearney, think what he brings to the Irish team is the same as what Girvan did, solidity and dependability. Ireland has plenty of free scoring wingers to choose from in stockdale, earls, Conway and larmour and having a fullback who Marshalls the defense is very important however I’d have my doubts about picking kearney on Saturday. He played last weekend because he needed to find fitness and form and he had a stinker, probably the worst game I’ve ever seen from him. I don’t think it’s the wisest thing to start him this weekend when there are question marks over him. It’d be better to give him the extra week and let conway or larmour have the 15 shirt. I wouldn’t back him this weekend because if it goes badly then it could be a big set back for him and Ireland.
@Jim Demps: Kearney as a last man defender in open field after a line break was never really something he’s was good at. As Cullen said allowing him get put in that position was also an issue. The Irish defence never really puts him in that position so for Ireland it’s not that big a deal. If the English plan is create a clean line break and then take on Kearney well good luck with that.
What he does bring is that he marshals the back 3 like no one else we have.
His form is not great but he has been here before and never let us down.
@Chris Mc: he’s lucky our defense is so organised, aided by him of course. Scary thought him getting caught one on one in the WC. I’d like to see someone else getting a shot and add a bit of experience to their bow.
@Jim Demps: it’s his game reading ability and how good he is at covering space with a 13 man defensive line that’s most important to Ireland.
@Chris Mc: he looked like a guy who was struggling with fitness and was trying too hard. I’d prefer to see him sit out this weekend and come back ready rather than him having a bad game and have everyone getting on his back afterwards.
@Chris Mc: I don’t understand why people are making such a big deal about this now, his last man one-on-one tackling has always been a weakness in his game, even at his prime. He doesn’t get exposed to that situation too often, particularly as most teams try to break us out wide. But there are numerous examples over the years of him getting burned just like against Scarlets.
@Jim Demps: I think that if he is dropped for this weekend and Ireland do win, then it is hard to see him being recalled for the next game – or indeed the rest of the 6 Nations unless his replacement is shown to be a weakness in the team. And then if Ireland don’t need him in the 6N his international career may be over as he can’t play multiple positions so, unless he is the number 1 full back he is unlikely to be picked for the RWC
@Kevin Ryan: it’s not thunderdome, we have the strength and quality in depth to allow a guy come back to peak fitness.
@Johnny 5: it’s always been a problem, he organizes the line so well that it’s not something that happens to him often, I don’t care what 15/23 joe picks this weekend those players will go out and give 100% for Ireland either way joe knows more than I do re the squad.
I think he plays this weekend and the rest is up to him
Perform and stay in the team
Fullback is the biggest depth issue for Ireland ahead of the world with an ageing Kearney, the departure of Zebo and Larmour looking vulnerable under the high ball all leaving things looking far from rosy. We could do much worse than using this six nations to give time in the position to Conway or Addison.
@Rochelle: you forgot to mention Tom Kiernan!
@Rochelle: larmour is not suspect under the high ball. He had one game where he missed a couple. In the same game both Earls and Stockdale both dropped or misread kicks but yet it’s only larmour who got singled out.
If Sexton or Murray had a stinker last weekend would there be calls for them to be dropped? Not a chance. Kearney is up there with them in terms of his importance. He’s crucial to how Ireland defend, and how we set up our attack from opposition kicks. He’s Ireland’s most decorated player of all time for a reason.
@Conor Matthews: no he’s not, don’t be stupid. The only players we have that are not replaceable with similiar quality are Furlong, Murray and Sexton, probably stockdale, POM and CJ as well. Their places are never so far anyway, under threat by the person below them.
@Bungee Aky: yeah sure thing..
45 games for club and country now without a try. Pretty shocking statistic
@PScald: of course, all that’s going to Happen now is a hat trick against England
Hope Eddie Jones is as fooled as the rest of ye that that was the real RK? Do u seriously think that Joe wanted his 1st choice world class fb risking injury tackling meanlingness Pro14?
@Ger Eckermann: if you think joe ever sent a player on the pitch and told him not to tackle just Incase he get hurt you know nothing about our coach.
@Ger Eckermann: so the negation always team coach dictates the performance of club players in club games now. Good to know.
@Chris Mc: why do you think Cullen is so confident so – he knows the remit. Kearney was sent out there to prove his fitness not get injured and Joe relies on him completely for big matches so would have told him not to take any unnecessary risks.
@Bungee Aky: since the IRFU pay all the players especially those on a CC they can dictate anything they want. We are the envy of the world for our player management and players like Kearney are way too valuable to be risked in meanlingness Pro14 except in terms of proving fitness.
@Ger Eckermann: so then he didn’t prove his fitness….
Kearney should have been dropped by Ireland three-plus years ago too old, too slow, complete lack of regard for defence thee days. he had one good game in Chicago against the Kiwis, and has been a liability every since. Its good to hear that schmidt is trying Henshaw at 15 in Portugal and hopefully that occurs against England this Saturday too