Australian Football International Cup
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The Australian Football International Cup is an international Australian rules football competition hosted by the Australian Football League. The goal of the competition is to promote the sport outside Australia. The tournament is the largest international Australian rules football event and the only one that is open to worldwide senior competition.
The inaugural tournament was the 2002 Australian Football International Cup and it has been held every 3 years since.
Although Australia, the home and world's strongest nation in the game, does not participate (as it would most likely dominate the competition), Melbourne, Australia has hosted all past tournaments (along with some games in Wangaratta in 2005).
The 2008 Australian Football International Cup will be held in Melbourne and up to 20 nations are expected to compete, after which the AFL intends to resume competition every 4 years.
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[edit] History of the Cup
When the International Australian Football Council was formed in 1995 one of its aims was to 'establish and promote an official World Cup of Australian Football.' At the time it was thought that 2008, being the 150th anniversary of the game, was the appropriate date.
However, in 1999 a proposal was received from the New Zealand Australian Football League (NZAFL), suggesting that the World Cup be brought forward to 2002. This was accepted by the Council and, following visits to many countries, Brian Clarke drafted a discussion paper and draft regulations for circulation to the various national bodies.
An approach was then made to the AFL, asking for their support in staging the event. The AFL agreed on the basis that the event was renamed the "International Cup". An Organising Committee, chaired by Ed Biggs and including AFL and IAFC representatives, was then appointed.
The inaugural competition was held between August 14 and August 23, 2002 (in conjunction with the International Australian Football Council), with 11 countries competing including Canada, Great Britain, Denmark, Ireland, South Africa, Japan, New Zealand, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and the United States. Ireland defeated Papua New Guinea in the final.
The second Cup was held between August 3 and August 13, 2005 in Australia. Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Japan, Samoa, South Africa, Spain and the United States competed. Denmark and Nauru competed in 2002 but withdrew from the 2005 tournament for financial reasons. Papua New Guinea were again runners up, this time defeated by New Zealand by 7.8 (50) to 5.2 (32).
[edit] Competing Teams , Nicknames & Placings
| Flag | Nation | Rep team | 2002 (11) | 2005 (10) |
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Canada | Northwind | 9th | 7th |
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Denmark | Vikings | 4th | - |
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Great Britain | Bulldogs | 6th | 6th |
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Ireland | Warriors | 1st | 4th |
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Japan | Samurais | 10th | 9th |
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New Zealand | Falcons | 3rd | 1st |
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Nauru | Chiefs | 8th | - |
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Papua New Guinea | Mosquitos | 2nd | 2nd |
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Samoa | Bulldogs | 7th | 5th |
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South Africa | Buffaloes | 11th | 8th |
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Spain | Bulls | - | 10th |
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United States | Revolution | 5th | 3rd |
[edit] See also
- Australian rules football around the world
- List of Australian rules football leagues outside Australia
- List of International Australian rules football Tournaments
- Australian Football Multicultural Cup
- International Rankings
[edit] External links
- Australian Football International Cups - World Footy News central page for all of the Cups
- Australian Football International Cup, 2005 - AFL Page
- Australian Football International Cup, 2005 - World Footy News review of all 2005 Cup matches
[edit] Video Content
- Video of Aussie Rules from YouTube
- New Zealand's Haka versus Samoan's Siva Tau - Wangaratta - International Cup 2005 from Google Video
- Samoan Siva Tau - International Cup 2005 from Google Video
- Papua New Guinea War Dance - International Cup 2005 from Google Video
- South Africa and Canada post match song from Google Video
| Australian Football International Cup | |||
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Participants |
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| Countries playing Australian rules football |
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Oceania |
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Asia & Middle East |
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Europe |
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Africa |
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Americas |
