British soldiers in Northern Ireland play Gaelic football for the first time since the introduction of Rule 21.

British soldiers from the Third Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment and the First Battalion of the Staffordshire Regiment play Gaelic football on the pitch at Ballykinlar in County Down.

While the players are adapting to the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) rules, one solider outlines the main differences between Gaelic football and soccer.

The clash came as Rule 21, which prohibits members of the British security forces and the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) in Northern Ireland joining the GAA, is to be reviewed by GAA members at Congress.

Albert Fallen GAA vice president and president of the Leinster Council says,

It's not a question of will the ban be removed it’s more a question of when.

Derry supporters arriving for the Kildare national football league match in Newbridge give their reaction to the historic match. Some fans think lifting the ban could benefit the game and one Derry fan adds,

I have no qualms about them playing, I’d like to be playing against them personally.

An RTÉ News report broadcast on 5 March 1995. The reporter is Ciaran Mullooly.