Irish international Rules manager Paul Earley confirmed his back room team for the upcoming series as the GAA also confirmed the Irish Daily Mail and TG4 as team and series sponsors and broadcaster partners respectively.
The recently appointed team manager announced that Séamus McCarthy (Tipperary), Ciarán Whelan (Dublin) and Tony Scullion (Derry) will act as selectors and that former Cavan footballer Nicholas Walsh will fill the role of conditioning coach.
Ireland face Australia in Kingspan Breffni Park, Cavan on October 19 and seven days later the second test takes place at Croke Park. Both games will be played under lights.
Uachtarán Chumann Lúthchleas Gael Liam Ó Néill welcomed the finalisation of the management team and the announcement of both sponsors and broadcast partners.
He said: “We are delighted to have such an experienced and enthusiastic management team in place and the selectors and backroom team will complement the very obvious skill-set that Paul will bring to the role as team manager.
“We are also delighted to confirm the Irish Daily Mail as team and series sponsors and TG4 as broadcast partners.
“We have worked with the Irish Daily Mail previously for this series and the energy and attention to detail they brought to the partnership helped raise the profile of the games.
“TG4 are also valued long term partners of the GAA and we are looking forward to working with them to bring the games to the widest audience possible.”
Paul Henderson, Managing Director of Associated Newspapers Ireland said: “The Irish Daily Mail International Rules Series is the only opportunity to gather our finest players to pull on the national jersey and play as one. As Ireland’s youngest and only growing newspaper we are delighted to once again to sponsor the series”
Pól Ó Gallchóir, Director General TG4 said, “I am delighted that TG4 has secured the rights for the matches this year and in Australia next year.
“Gaelic Games are very important in the TG4 schedule as was illustrated last Sunday on St. Patrick’s Day when we reached an audience of 630,000 for the Club Finals. TG4 will be showing highlights from the International Rules archive during September and October this year and the two matches live on the 19th and 26th October.”