INTRODUCING SQUAD NUMBERS for the hurling championship would help boost the profile of inter-county players as well as tackling the problem of dummy teams.

Today’s proposal from the Hurling 2020 Review Committee could be in place by the start of this season’s championship.

As it stands, Congress will be asked to vote next month on a rule which would force managers in both codes to name a 26-man panel on the Thursday before a senior championship game, and their starting line-up at least 20 minutes before throw-in.

“One of the growing issues in Gaelic games at senior level over the last 15 years is the issuing of dummy teams, ie where a team announced in the lead-up to the game is then materially different in positional and personnel sense when the game takes place,” the committee said.

“The new rules being proposed by Central Council to combat these trends will be viewed by the Hurling 2020 committee with interest.

“Since the introduction of the rule ensuring all players are required to wear helmets, it is becoming more difficult to recognise players. As a committee, we would propose
the introduction of squad numbers beginning with the 2015 Liam MacCarthy Cup competition.

At the beginning of the championship, each player would be allocated a number. The player would then keep that number for the remainder of the championship, helping supporters to associate the number with the player as the more successful team’s [sic] progress.

Squad numbers would also increase demand for the jerseys of some of the game’s biggest stars, the committee added.

“Along with assisting with the identification of our top players, it would also add a new promotional vehicle as supporters – young and old – would seek to get their favourite player’s jersey, complete with their squad number.”

Anyone for “Nash 1″, “Kelly 11″, or “Canning 14″?

You can read the report in full here >

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