Davy Fitzgerald wants hurling to trial version of football’s three-up ruleFitzgerald is not in favour of the puck-out having to go beyond the 45-metre line but likes the clock/hooter rule and would also like to see hurling’s tackle definition amended Thu, 03 Sep, 2026 – 02:00John Fogarty
Davy Fitzgerald would like to see the GAA trial a version of Gaelic football’s three-up rule in hurling to curb the amount of rucks in matches.
The 2013 All-Ireland SHC winning manager maintains hurling is not in need of much change, but as John Meyler’s hurling advisory group finalise their experimental rules for the third level Division 1 league later this year, he believes there is merit in each team having to retain a number of forwards up the field.
“Four forwards inside the 65,” says Fitzgerald. “You can have as many defenders back there, but when there are four forwards there teams will have to put players there to sit on them.
“I wouldn’t see there being as much congestion that way. The reason the handpass is under pressure is because you have too many people around it. The thrown pass is more of a bad habit than anything else.
“But if you were to insist on each team having to keep players in the far side of the field, I think that could help. Like, you’ll still have rucks, but you won’t have near as many.
“I’m not saying this is right, but I’m saying ‘try it out’. I just think it’ll go some way to stopping the rucks in the middle third and players will be spread more evenly around the field.
“Four players not allowed to go past midfield would do that. You’d still have the one or two forwards going back to help out, but it might bring a bit more shape to the game and allow teams to score from the middle of the field.”
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Fitzgerald is not in favour of the puck-out having to go beyond the 45-metre line, as has been suggested, but likes the clock/hooter, another Football Review Committee (FRC) recommendation.
“Hurling’s timekeeping has to improve. The football guys made a brilliant call with that. It’s far more transparent.”
The Clare man is not averse to the value of a goal jumping from three to four points but is certainly a supporter of a two-point sideline cut.
“It deserves that reward because it’s such a unique ground hurling skill and also it would stop teams just hitting balls over the sideline that don’t need to be hit.”
The tackle rule, which is defined as shoulder to shoulder, has to be amended too, says the former Clare,Antrim, Waterford and Wexford manager.
“Is shoulder to shoulder outdated? It probably is. I like tackling, I like going in and getting the ball off a fella and there is more than one way of doing it. We have to be careful of head contact at the same time.”
Fitzgerald has seen how the FRC have advanced football and rules like contributing to a melee a black card have benefitted the game (it remains a red card in hurling).
“I would copy football like that. Hurling doesn’t need the fix football did, but we could definitely do a few things to improve it and if they don’t work, fine but test them and see.”
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