The GAA have licensed a foreign sports apparel company but claim the move does not impinge on their rules regarding the Irish manufacturing of all playing gear. New Zealand company Canterbury, well established in the Irish rugby market, have been granted GAA partner status for their production of base layer products.

Rule 14 states all playing gear - with the exception of boots - must be manufactured in Ireland, although the GAA have come under pressure in the past to relax such regulations given they rule out most of the bigger multinational companies.

Canterbury's products are in fact made in China, but according to the GAA's commercial and marketing manager, Dermot Power, their use entails no conflict with any rule.

"Basically it's a new product in terms of sportswear," said Power, "and not covered by our rule. It's also in fact adding to our list of licences, because we did add another one of their competitors last year. But there is no mention of this type of gear under Rule 14 for the simple reason it didn't exist when the rule was written. It's not made in Ireland, but we don't have any reservations about that . . . A few years ago all the balls we played with were made in Ireland, and now none of them are made in Ireland."

Under the GAA's amateur guidelines an individual player can't be formally paid to wear a certain brand of gear, and financial agreements can only be made at county board level.

Rule 14 also states all playing gear, with the exception of boots, must still be manufactured in Ireland, though that market has expanded in recent years with the granting of two additional gear licences, to Gaelic Gear and Azzurri.

In the past, however, multinational companies such as Adidas have attempted to break into the playing gear market, only to be stumped by Rule 14.

"That rule still exists but only applies to playing gear," added Power. "A task force was set up recently to examine the issue, and there is still a strong commitment within the GAA to maintain it, as long as we can. And right now if you go to places like Strabane or Belfast or Waterford you will see companies making jerseys.

"They still supplement that by bringing in other leisurewear from abroad, and that helps them keep jobs in Ireland, which is what it's all about. So effectively we do have a number of licensed products now, which are free to sell to the GAA market, with certain constraints."

In the meantime the GAA aren't limiting themselves in securing a new multi-sponsorship package for their football and hurling championships, with both current deals expiring at the end of the summer. As announced earlier this year the GAA are poised to bring in several sponsors, as distinct from one, though the exact package must still go before Management Committee later this month for approval.

"We're still a little way off finalising that," explained Power. "We have the package we want to put to management. But only after that's approved can we go out talking to sponsors."

Power also confirmed Guinness very much remain in the running for a part of the package, despite ongoing concerns over alcohol-related sponsorship in sport.