Kilkenny star TJ Reid took to social media to question the Irish Government's Covid-19 strategy after Level 5 restrictions were announced last night.
The Ballyhale Shamrocks sharpshooter will be in action for Kilkenny in the coming weeks as elite sport has been given the green light to continue amid the new restrictions.
But Reid's gym business TJ Reid Health & Fitness will be forced to shut under the new rules.
Taking to Twitter last night, the four-time All-Star asked: "What is a 6 week lockdown going to do? Only slow down confirmed cases until we are out of lockdown again.
"People will let loose over Christmas and then we will be back into another lockdown. We need a better 'living with Covid plan' not another lockdown."
Replying to a follower who called for 'perseverance', Reid continued: "I have been doing so for the last 8 months and I'll continue to lead Ger.
"The government had 8 months to prepare us for the winter, what was the easiest solution lockdown. They knew cases would rise again and they sat back and left it rise. Its not good enough."
Reid is not the only prominent sporting figure to question the move to Level 5 nationwide.
Conor McGregor's coach John Kavanagh is of the opinion that gyms should stay open for the sake of physical and mental wellbeing.
Before the Level 5 announcement, he tweeted: "Government currently debating whether gyms are essential service. We know that gyms improve people's physical and mental health hugely.
"But they're debating it. Interestingly off licences (liquor stores) never closed. Were immediately declared essential with zero argument."
Gyms across the country are preparing to shut down as gym-goers look for alternative forms of exercise for the next six weeks.
Meanwhile, golfers across Ireland await a statement from the Golfing Union of Ireland today on whether golf courses will remain open for those living within a 5km radius of their course.
