ANZAC Cup confirmed, applications now open
AFL Europe’s ANZAC Cup event will run from April 23rd to the 25th next year and is now accepting applications to play in the men’s and women’s Australian Spirit teams.
Applying to represent Australian Spirit is welcome from any Australian or New Zealander, with selection for the event emphasised on a player’s personal connection to WW1 and the Armed Forces, not just purely football ability.
Previous players selected to play in the event over the past two years, and have missed out on the opportunity to do so, have been contacted and given priority into next year’s sides.
However, there are still three spots remaining in the men’s team and five in the women’s.
Players interested in applying for next year’s ANZAC Cup should express their interest to admin@afleurope.org to receive an information sheet and application form.
Players who have applied to play in previous ANZAC Cup’s and unfortunately missed out on selection are encouraged to reapply.
Application forms must be returned by Sunday, 28th of November to be considered.
Next year’s ANZAC Cup match will feature on Sunday, 24th April. Players will be expected to arrive Friday, 22nd April and stay until Monday, 25th April to take part in the weekend’s activities, including attending the Dawn Service at the Australian National Memorial on ANZAC Day.
The match is played between the men’s and women’s Australian Spirit and French national sides, and is part of the annual ‘Australia Week’ celebrations held in Villers-Bretonneux.
The small town of Villers-Bretonneux in Northern France has a strong connection with the Australian Armed Forces. On 24th April 1918, the town was captured by German forces.
Overnight, the Australian troops retaliated and by dawn on the 25th April 1918, the town had been retaken.
More information about the history of Villers-Bretonneux and AFL Europe’s ANZAC Cup can be found here.
Watch a short video from the 2018 event below.
