Clare's Podge Collins believes that GAA referees should have the opportunity to address players before games.
The 2013 All-Ireland winner feels that such an initiative would afford match officials greater respect from players, an area where he feels that hurling and Gaelic football, both of which he has played at the highest level, falls well short of rugby.
Collins acknowledged that he’s been guilty in that regard himself in the past.
Speaking at the launch of the Bank of Ireland Celtic Challenge, he said: “As you get older and get to know refs a bit better, you have to kind of see things [from their perspective]. You're very objective when you're on the field and you obviously want to win.
“I'd nearly describe it as politics, you only see your side of the argument and that's it. But, like, the referee going in having a chat before the game, letting you know what he's looking out for.
“I think it's something we could nearly do at senior. I think it's one of the positives in rugby.
“You see it in rugby games, the players have a lot of respect for the referee. It's something we could look at in GAA.
“Even in soccer, you see players effing and blinding at referees and kids are growing up looking at that and that's the way they think they can act when they're going out. It is something that probably at the start of my career I was bad at but as I've grown up and I've got better at it.
“And like, talking to the ref, even coming into the dressing room before games and telling you what he's looking out for, you'll know then on the field if you're making those mistakes, he'll be able to talk to you about it.”
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