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Around the Grounds

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#EuroCup16 wraps up for another year

The 2016 Euro Cup in Lisbon was held over the weekend under clear blue skies and a scorching sun. With 374 players from 16 countries across 22 teams participating the day was an incredible success.

The main pitch was live streamed throughout the day with a record number of people tuning in from all over the globe. Blow-by-blow commentary for the majority of the day brought the games to life and make for great viewing on replay.

irish

Under a setting sun on the main pitch the crowd grew to watch the finals matches. Congratulations to the Netherlands (Plate), France (Bowl), Ireland (Women’s Champions) and Croatia (Men’s Champions) for claiming victory in their respective divisions.

A special thank you to our three pitch manager’s Fanny Maillett, Laura Pinckney and Hayley Canton for ensuring the day ran smoothly along with our umpiring squad led by Shane Hill.

Stay tuned for a full event report in the coming days.

croatia

Sparky joins the big time after AFL Women’s Draft

Wimbledon Hawks stalwart, Lauren Spark, became the second Hawk to join the newly formed AFL Women’s League for 2017. She was taken at pick 76 by the Western Bulldogs.

Sparky’s selection sets up a mouthwatering clash with Hawks teammate, Kate Shierlaw, at some stage next year.

We wish both girls all the best in the inaugural AFL Women’s league.

Australian Masters kick off tour with a win

The Australian Masters side which is touring England and Ireland have kicked off their campaign with an 11-point victory over Oxford University at Merton Sports Ground.

oxford

The boys will have to rest up as they visit the Australian High Commission today before taking on an AFL England All-Stars side in Reading on Saturday. Further details on that match at the link below:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1058075340928430/

CNFA season kicks off this weekend

The CNFA season is upon us with round 1 of the 2016/17 season kicking off this weekend. The Paris Cockatoos will be hoping to avoid second year blues after they claimed the premiership in their first season against the Cergy-Pontoise Coyotes in the season decider earlier this year in June.

Its set to be a fantastic year of Aussie rules action in the CNFA. Check out the fixtures below:

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Hawks and Demons covering all bases

The Wimbledon Hawks and Wandsworth Demons supplied record numbers of participants to this year’s Euro Cup.

The Hawks had players in 5 of the 16 countries:

England: Jason Hill, Myles Hudson, David Hastie, Jennifer Bennett, Louise Darby, Lisa Wilson, Charlotte-Ellen Eales and Jess Milford

France: Chloe Romeo

Scotland: Rachel Kilmartin, Lauren Spark (Coach), Kate Shierlaw (Assistant)

Ireland: Stiofan Mac Finn

Wales: Jordan Wynne

The Demons had a total of 22 club members playing or coaching for 4 countries, umpiring or volunteering in an amazing show of community involvement.

Well done to both clubs for great achievements and for all their efforts ensuring the 2016 installment of the Euro Cup was a great success.

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Player of the Week

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AFL Europe Player of the Week

Each week AFL Europe is profiling a European player and finding out how they got into the great game of Aussie Rules and a bit about themselves. If you’d like a profile or know of someone who would, then email admin@afleurope.org to receive a question sheet.

This week we are profiling the silver-fox from the Irish Warriors, Eoin O’Murchu. If you’re in Lisbon for this weekend’s Euro Cup then keep an eye out on this veteran winger.

Name:

Eoin O Murchu

Club:

Wandsworth Demons

Nationality:

Ireland

What position do you play?

Wing and Midfield

AFL team you support:

Sydney Swans

Favourite AFL player:

Pearce Hanley from the Brisbane Lions. Honourable mention for “Buddy” Franklin from the Swans too.

How did you find out about AFL?

I played Gaelic Football up until I move to London 7 years ago so I always had an interest growing up. Jim Stynes was from my neighbouring club in Dublin and I followed Tadhg Kennelly’s career when he played too. When I found out there was a league in London I really wanted to get involved.

How long have you been playing for?

6 years

What is your memory of your first Aussie Rules game?

Chest marks, getting smashed in my first tackle and beating the West London Wildcats in the lashing rain in Putney.

Best AFL moment?

Being named the Rest of the World Club Captain for the Wandsworth Demons last year but winning EU Best and Fairest in my first season at the Demons is a close second.

Notable mention goes to the hard earned froths at the Alex with the Demons after every game. Nothing better than dropping a few Fozzies with the Dees and Shedees 😉 post game.

Any other interesting information, quirky stories or interesting things about yourself?

While I love footy, nothing beats Hurling which was my main sport until I moved to London. Also, my surname is Irish for Murphy which people find very confusing in the UK!

People don’t often associate me with being a big drinker as I usually shy away from the traditional AFL London post-game boat race but a close few know of my ability to down a pint in under 2 seconds.

Match of the Round

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Holland vs Great Britain – Battersea Park, 10:30am

This Saturday the 24th of September will see Holland make the journey to London where they’ll be making their 18-a-side debut against newly crowned AFL Europe Championship winners, the Great Britain Bulldogs.

The match provides both teams with invaluable experience with the Bulldogs preparing for the International Cup in 2017 and the Flying Dutchmen continuing their rapid development as an AFL playing nation.

Battersea Park with be transformed into a full AFL oval allowing both teams to gain further knowledge of players and tactics in the year leading up to IC17.

The Flying Dutchmen will be bolstered by a couple of Australian’s who reside in Amsterdam, along with a handful of players from Oxford and AFL London to fill out a full squad of 22. Getting a squad together is a great achievement by all involved in Dutch football. They’ve been incredible hosts of the AFL Europe Champions League over the past two years and the DAFA 9s was a great success in season 2016. The Dutchies will be a strong opponent for the Bulldogs and despite going into this game as underdogs the punters might fancy the boys in Orange.

The Bulldogs have selected a slightly changed side from the European Championships with coach Dean Thomas looking to gain further insight into other eligible players in the build up to Australia. Craig Degville, Ryan Cawley, Dominic Mitchell, Charlie Steel, Tomos Wyn-Jones, Ian Mitchell, Spike Kilheeney and Josh Keeney join the squad. The remaining EC winners are Chris Britton, Michael Sharp, George Dibble, Lewis Gedney, Alex Overton, Jack Coughlan, Owain Ryland, Andy Walkden, Luke Booth, Myles Hudson, Jack Wood, James ‘Ryan Crowley’ Talbot, Matt Warwick, David Jordan, David Hastie and Andrew Cochran.

Bulldog’s Team Manager, Jason Hill, had this to say:

“It’s great to be able to get another fixture on the back of a successful EC and Neil Cooke has been pivotal in putting together a Dutch side to make their debut at this level. Great Britain AFL and the DAFA share a very positive relationship and we will do what we can to help grow their game and compete at this level. This gives us more valuable time on the pitch in preparation for IC and gives coach, Dean Thomas, a great chance to view more players within his system. We’re looking to be the most prepared Bulldog’s team of all time and believe that games like this will help us achieve that. I look forward to welcoming the Dutch to London now and in the future”.

The match is a great initiative and is something AFL Europe is be aiming to help facilitate more of in the near future. With a 10:30am bounce and at beautiful Battersea Park be sure to stop in and watch some full format Aussie Rules.

 

 

 

Around the Grounds

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It was a big weekend of grand finals around Europe with Germany, Norway and the CEAFL crowning their 2016 Premiers.

Munich reign supreme in the AFLG 16s Premiership with a convincing win over Berlin, while Hamburg prove too strong in the AFLG 9s Championship

The Munich Kangaroos dominated in the AFLG 16s Premiership at the weekend to claim the 2016 title.

The Kangaroos jumped out to a 20-point lead at quarter time and didn’t look back. They put the foot down in the second term and went into the main break with a 62-25 advantage.

It was always going to be tough to bridge that gap for the Berlin side but to their credit they didn’t throw in the towel. They couldn’t impact the scorers but their effort never dropped off.

Full credit to a smooth moving Munich who kept their opponent to a solitary point in the second half and ran out comfortable winners. Final scores reading 139-26. Well done Kangas.

The 16s Premiership wasn’t all that was on the line on Saturday with the AFLG 9s Championship decider being played between the Frankfurt Redbacks and Hamburg Dockers. It was the latter who took home the chocolates as they wrestled the advantage in their favour with a strong premiership quarter giving them a 23-point buffer. It was junk time in the fourth quarter for the Dockers as they strolled in for a 19.12. 126 to 10.11. 71 victory.

Congratulations to all teams who competed at the weekend and the AFLG committee for taking the game in Germany from strength to strength.

munich

hamburg

Giants taste even more success as Zaprude make it a clean sweep in Prague

Giants fans from all over the globe will be grinning from ear-to-ear after the weekend they just had. First he GWS seniors won through to the preliminary final in the AFL, then their reserves took out the North East AFL title, but it was the Giants from Zaprude who claimed their third tournament victory for the year and wrapped up the CEAFL title for season 2016.

In what was an amazing day of Central European football hosted by the Prague Dragons, the Zaprude Giants defeated all challengers claiming the Prague instalment of the championship by defeating a valiant Sesvete Double Blues.

In the third place final its was the home side, the Prague Dragons, taking on the Zagreb Dockers. In a tight tussle it was the Dockers who held on for a narrow victory.

The fifth place final pitted a much improved Styrian DownunderDogs against the VG Bombers. The Bombers were too good in this clash finishing off a strong first season in the competition.

The Zagreb Hawks battled hard all day but with a weakened touring squad they were unable to impact the competition.

The Prague instalment of the CEAFL was the third and final tournament of the competition. After victories in Zagreb and Gratz it was always going to be tough to catch eventual winners, Zaprude who put it beyond doubt after a dominant display on Saturday.

Massive congratulations to the Prague Dragons for hosting the tournament but also to the entire CEAFL committee and community. After experiencing first-hand your tournament, it is without doubt that AFL in Central Europe is onto a winning formula. We can’t wait to see what the CEAFL brings in 2017.

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Oslo East too strong for the boys from the West in AFL Norway decider

Oslo East are Champions of Norway! Despite a relentless Oslo West, East were just too classy and dominated from start to finish.

Danny Aukema was dominant up front and impressed with 6 majors, while Aidan Dutton was unstoppable in midfield. The Norwegian national captain, Mats Danielsen was a rock in defence and was ecstatic to hold up the Kengura Cup for 2016 after his team failed to make the grand final the previous year.

Oslo West were best served by the ever-dependable Rene Damborg Jensen, Klas Alexander Harris and Ben Marks

Final scores 12.5. 77 to 1.5 11

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Sodermalm finish top and straight through to SAFF grand final

Sodermalm Blues continue to be the who’s who in the SAFF as their final round match was marked down as a forfeit as the Solna Axemen were unable to field a full side.

The 120-0 forfeit puts the Blues at the top of the SAFF ladder and will see them advance to the decider on the 24th of September. Unfortunately for Solna it also marks the first time a SAFF side has gone through a season without registering a win.

The Axemen are a proud club and will be out to prove a point in season 2017. Congratulations to the Axemen who made the journey along with the Arsta Swans who combined to play a friendly 11-a-side match against the Blues.

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Women Want Footy

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In 2014, Australian Rules football celebrated 25 years of a sporting competition in the country of England. In 2015, Women’s Australian Rules football officially took off with an AFL London Women’s league comprising of four already established men’s clubs each becoming host to a Women’s team. Those founding clubs being: Wimbledon Hawks, Wandsworth Demons, North London Lions and the South East London Giants.

In previous years, only exhibition games had been held for females on AFL London Grand Final day or training sessions for those interested. The development of a women’s league in London only confirms the continual development and interest in the game away from Australia. Even more so with the recent implementation of Women’s AFL matches being played since 2013 between the Western Bulldogs and the Melbourne Demons.

Lauren Sparks, a current player for the Wimbledon Hawks, had previous experience playing Aussie Rules football back in Melbourne – 3 years for Melbourne University, representative football for Victoria at the National Championships and Vic Metro. Lauren was also a member of the first two Women’s AFL sanctioned exhibition matches, playing for the Western Bulldogs against the Melbourne Demons. When asked about her knowledge of the league (men or women’s); “before coming over here I didn’t know much at all about the league…I found out they were introducing the first women’s league and that 4 teams would be involved”. As most antipodeans tend to do when moving abroad, a sporting club or organisation is a safe house as a social network. Lauren attributes the Wimbledon Hawks as an accessible way to meet new people, especially with the correlation between the men’s and women’s teams at the club.

Coming from a different Australian Rules football background, Jessie Hayes was part of the Junior Development Program at the Fremantle Dockers and had grown up around the sport. Having minimal knowledge of the Women’s AFL London league before arriving in London, Jessie knew that she would eventually be drawn to a club in one way or another. “Before I came over I had an inkling I would get involved in a club in some way”. She thanks peer pressure from her friend, a North London Lions player, to ‘[encourage] me to get on the other side of the boundary line for once”.

Both players strongly condone the sport as a great way to socialise with other people, and not only at their specific club, but over all the clubs. Many clubs hold joint social occasions to encourage camaraderie between each other – North London Lions and the West London Wildcats jointly host a Thames River Cruise as part of the Wildcat’s Ladies’ Day celebrations. Ladies’ Day is quickly becoming more and more important for the AFL London clubs’ to ascertain their stance as a genuine supporter of further developing and creating awareness of women’s involvement in Australian Rules football.

Without a doubt, the social aspect of the league is a part that everyone enjoys – “It is brilliant to have found such a great family like the Lions. London life wouldn’t be anywhere near as good without the club” Jessie states. As most expats in London can agree, playing Aussie Rules football assists in avoiding a dosage of the ‘Heathrow Injection’ (the sudden weight gain from lack of physical activity when arriving into London).

But where to next for the Women’s AFL London league? The current teams participating in the league are looking to grow their participation numbers and clubs that have yet to field a team would ideally be looking at staking their presences in the league.

“It’s definitely got room to grow, the amount of foreigners that are exposed to it, never seen it before, and then are hooked the minute they try the game, it intrigues people” says Lauren in regards to further expansion of the women’s league. Women’s team are both represented at the Axios Euro Cup as well as the International Cup (World Cup for Aussie Rules football), however there is always the desire to continually expand the participation level for both genders in Europe.

For more information regarding the Women’s AFL London league or any local competitions please head to the Women’s AFL London website.

 

 

James Gottschalk

The Axios Euro Cup will be held in…

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 Umag!

It’s with great enthusiasm that AFL Europe, with the help of the Croatian Australian Football League (SANH), are thrilled to announce the location for 2015 Axios Euro Cup is the beautiful town of Umag!

The Axios Euro Cup is being held on the 10th October 2015 in Umag, which is located in Istra, the coastal region of Croatia. Taking place in the resort that also plays host to the annual ATP Croatia Tournament, the Cup promises a well organised, cheap and warm weekend. With special Euro Cup accommodation and being accessible from three airports under an hour and a half drive and the alternate option of hiring a car and driving from Italy or Slovenia, the 2015 Axios Euro Cup will be affordable for all.

Further information will be supplied in the coming weeks so stay tuned!

 

 

Sarah Ongarello

Denmark Vikings Axios Euro Cup Champions

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After a mostly cloudy and wet day of competition on October 4th at The London Irish’s Hazelwood Centre facility, an almost faultless performance throughout the tournament by the Denmark Vikings gave them the 2014 Axios Euro Cup.

Although they did not compete in last year’s edition in Bordeaux, France, the Danes were looking to avenge their one point loss in the finals two years ago in Edinburgh to Ireland. The hard-fought Grand Final against the usually dominant Croatian Knights was an offensive display from Troels Ottesen, who scored half his team’s goals.

The Vikings dominant showing was showcased by a 109-point shutout over bottom but courageous Catalunya, which included 17 goals and 7 behinds, meaning The Vikings scored once every minute during the 25-minute game. Their defense was strong as well, as only the Welsh Dragons were able to score more than 2 goals on them.

Many attribute Denmark’s dominance to their youth development. Their competitive league begun in 1991. Only two other countries, Canada and Great Britain, had competitive football before Denmark. Now 23 years later, some of Denmark’s players have been playing since their childhood, something rare for European AFL athletes. This was undoubtedly the strongest team in their history. Performances of the European Legion talents Danes Mikkel Kjoge and Aksel Bang as well as Croat Josip “Pain Train” Habljak were congratulated.

16 Men’s team participated in this year’s cup. The German Black Eagles, Swedish Elks, Scottish Clansmen, Welsh Dragons, and champion Denmark Vikings all returned to this year’s competition after missing out in Bordeaux. The Netherlands Flying Dutchmen returned for the first time since 2011. Players from Czech Republic, Finland and Iceland were represented in the Crusaders team that was topped off by additional English players. We hope those teams return to the future Euro Cups.

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Scores of the 2014 Axios Euro Cup:

Prince Charles Group

Italy Azzurri 5.6 (36) – Netherlands Flying Dutchmen 1.4 (10)
Goals:
Netherlands: BGC van Schie
Italy: Denis Conte, Filippo Bolognese, Luigi Arnulfo, Andrea Lorenzi, Filippo Allosio
Best:
Netherlands: Daniel van Der Putten, MIchael van Eijk, Miguel Zuidberg Dos Martires
Italy: Daniele Gennara, Filippo Allosio, Andrea Lorenzi

France Les Coqs 4.4 (28) – German Black Eagles 5.5 (35)
Goals:
Germany: Matthias Kluseman 3, Jakob Friedman 2, Johannes Mast
France: Henry Tiefenbach 2, Loïc Besnard-Gonthier, Pierre-Etienne Dandaleix
Best:
Germany: Ruben Stricher, Simon Assmus, Gannon Borchers
France: Pierre-Etienne Dandaleix, Pierre Boscart, Loïc Besnard-Gonthier

Italy Azzurri 2.2 (14) – German Black Eagles 5.5 (35)
Goals:
Germany: Martin Schettoff 2, Jakob Friedman 2, Matthias Kluseman
Italy: Luigi Arnulfo, Federico Bernasconi
Best:
Germany: Martin Schettoff, Ruben Stricher, Florian Naumann
Italy: Federico Bernasconi, Luigi Arnulfo, Denis Conte

Netherlands Flying Dutchmen 0.0 (0) – France Les Coqs 3.2 (20)
Goals:
France: Loïc Besnard-Gonthier 2, Julien Dagois
Best:
France: Pierre–Etienne Dandaleix, Loïc Besnard-Gonthier, Alban Schieber
Netherlands: Michael van Eijk, Daniel van der Putten, BGC van Schie

German Black Eagles 7.4 (46) – Netherlands Flying Dutchmen 0.1 (1)
Goals:
Germany: Matthias Kluseman 3, Martin Schettoff 2, Ruben Stricher, Simon Assmus
Best:
Germany: Martin Schettoff, Gannon Borchers, Simon Assmus
Netherlands: Michael van Eijk, Daniel van der Putten, Renier J.M Vriend

Italy Azzurri 4.6 (30) – France Les Coqs 3.4 (22)
Goals:
Italy: Denis Conte, Christian Tiranti, Andrea Lorenzi, Daniele Gennara
France: Henry Tiefenbach, Simon Mondin, Loïc Besnard-Gonthier
Best:
Italy: Andrea Lorenzi, Christian Tiranti, Denis Conte
France: Pierre–Etienne Dandaleix, Alban Schieber, Julien Gil

Winston Churchill Group

Ireland Warriors 6.3 (39) – Scotland Clansmen 0.3 (3)
Goals:
Ireland: Gavin Murray 3, Coilin O Londrían 2, Cillian Conboy
Best:
Ireland: Gavin Murray, Declan Alder, David Miller
Scotland: N/A

Swedish Elks 7.8 (50) – Norwegian Trolls 1.3 (9)
Goals:
Norway: Jorgen Boro
Sweden: Michael Larsson 5, Johan Lantz 2
Best:
Norway: Tobias Limseth, Brage Blomdal, Jorgen Boro
Sweden: Michael Larsson, Max Larsson, Tobias Slahl

Ireland Warriors 9.8 (62) – Norwegian Trolls 1.3 (9)
Norway: Andre Michaelsen
Ireland: Cillian Conboy 2, Coilin O Londrían 2, Richard MacSweeney, Padraic O’ Connell, Ronan Moran, Declan Alder, Roch Hanmore
Best:
Norway: Anders Thomt, Andre Klaffmo, Klas Harris
Ireland: Kevin O’ Brien, Gerard Walh, Declan Alder

Swedish Elks 2.13 (25) – Scotland Clansmen 2.1 (13)
Goals:
Scotland: Cameron Goodall, Scott O’Hara
Sweden: Michael Larsson, Johan Lantz
Best:
Scotland: Ross Thomson, John McIntyre, Alexander Clark
Sweden: Max Larsson, Michael Larsson, Johan Lantz

Norwegian Trolls 0.3 (3) – Scotland Clansmen 3.8 (26)
Goals:
Scotland: Alex Young 2, John McIntyre
Best:
Scotland: Alex Young, Cameron Goodall, Daniel Connor
Norway: Anders Thomt, Haarkon Molvig, Atle Brevik

Ireland Warriors 7.7 (49) – Swedish Elks 1.2 (8)
Goals:
Ireland: Kevin O’Brien 3, Ciaran Caffrey, Roch Hanmore, Declan Alder, Cillian Conboy
Sweden: Jacob Lantz
Best:
Ireland: Kevin O’Brien, Rock Hanmore, Eoin O’Sullivan
Sweden: Max Larsson, Michael Larson, Jacob Lantz

Captain Cook Group

England Dragonslayers 11.12 (78) – Crusaders 0.0 (0)
Goals:
England: Sam Willatt 2, Luke Booth 2, Ash Swift, Graham Bickerdike, Myles Hudson, Ross Ashman, Matt Whiteley, David Hastie, Luke Murchie
Best:
England: Will Worthington, George Dibble, Dave Hastie
Crusaders: James Clayton, Tomas Nemec, Jens Lofbancica

Spanish Bulls 0.1 (1) – Welsh Dragons 13.6 (84)
Goals:
Wales: Andrew Atack 4, Chris James 3, Sam Jones 3
Best:
Wales: David Saunders, Christopher James, Liam Payne
Spain: N/A

England Dragonslayers 3.3 (21) – Welsh Dragons 2.5 (17)
Goals:
Wales: Quad Boal, Chris James
England: N/A
Best:
Wales: David Saunders, Tort Case, Quad Boal
England: N/A

Spanish Bulls 1.1 (7) – Crusaders 2.9 (21)
Goals:
Spain: Pedro Hernando
Crusaders: Joni Kinnari, Alex Overton
Best:
Spain: Pablo Màs, Juan Jose Martin de Cabo, Pedro Hernando
Crusaders: James Clayton, Alex Overton, Kristjan Blondal

Welsh Dragons 9.11 (65) – Crusaders 1.0 (6)
Goals:
Wales: Chris James
Crusaders: N/A
Best:
Wales: David Saunders, Nick Lewis, Quad Boal
Crusaders: Alex Overton, Tomas Nemec, Warmon Pliestlic

England Dragonslayers 8.12 (60) – Spanish Bulls 1.0 (6)
Goals:
Spain: Juan Palencia de Sarria
England: N/A
Best:
Spain: Juan Palencia de Sarria, Juan Jose Martin, Pablo Màs
England:N/A

Adam Goodes Group  

Croatian Knights (50) – Catalunya Llops (0)
FORFEIT

Denmark Vikings 13.10 (88) – Austrian Avalanche 0.0 (0)
Goals:
Denmark: Victor Petersen 3, Jonas Nielsen 2, Morten Meroj 2, Nicolai Secher 2, Mathias Biron, Mekkel Kjoge, Troels Ottensen
Best:
Denmark: Morten Meroj, Mikkel Kjoge, Jonas Nielsen
Austria: Markus Mayer, Lukas Holzegger, Konrad Traby

Croatian Knights 4.9 (33) – Austrian Avalanche 1.4 (10)
Goals:
Austria: Markus Mayer
Croatia: David Lazanin, Tomislav Tonsetic, Josip Kravar, Zvonimir Marinovic
Best:
Austria: Martin Schittegg, Bernhard Voller, Markus Mayer
Croatia: Ivan Molnar, Zvonimir Murkovic, Josip Kravar

Denmark Vikings 17.7 (109) – Catalunya Llops 0.0 (0)
Goals:
Denmark: Victor Petersen 4, Mikkel Kjoge 3, Nicolai Secher 3, Nathan Campion 2, Morten Engsbye 2, Jakob Oversgaard, Aksel Bang, Jens Djernes
Best:
Denmark: Victor Petersen, Mathias Biron, Mikkel Kjoge
Catalunya: N/A

Austrian Avalanche 13.9 (87) – Catalunya Llops 0.0 (0)
Goals:
Austria: Erwin Shober 4, Bernhard Voller 2, Richard Claassen, Michael Jud, Lukas Holzegger, Martin Schitegg, Daniel Hansmann, Robert Greimer
Best:
Austria: Martin Schittegg, Daniel Hansmann, Erwin Shober
Catalunya: N/A

Croatian Knights 1.5 (11) – Denmark Vikings 2.5 (17)
Goals:
Denmark: Troels Ottensen, Nicolai Secher
Croatia: N/A
Best:
Denmark: Mikkel Kjoge, Troels Ottensen, Mathias Biron
Croatia: N/A

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PLATE

Norwegian Trolls 3.9 (27) – Netherlands Flying Dutchmen 1.3 (9)
Goals:
Norway: Rene Jensen, Amund Lundesgaard, Anders Thomt
Netherlands: Renier J.M Vriend
Best:
Norway: Rene Jensen, Anders Thomt, Amund Lundesgaard
Netherlands: Jort Kolman, Michael van Eijk, Gerrit Blanken

Spanish Bulls 5.4 (34) – Catalunya Llops 3.6 (24)
Goals:
Spain: Jose Domingo Fernandez Diaz 3, Pedro Palencia de Sarria
Catalunya: N/A
Best:
Spain:
Jose Domingo Fernandez Diaz, P. Palencia de Sarria, J. Palencia de Sarria
Catalunya: N/A

Norwegian Trolls 8.14 (62) – Spanish Bulls 0.0 (0)
Goals:
Norway: Andreas Berge 2, Rene Damborg Jensen, Jorgen Boro, Klas Harris, Liam Hardy, Tobias Limseth, Haakon Molvig
Best:
Norway: Anders Thomt, Rene Damborg, Tobias Limseth
Spain: Juan Jose Martin de Cabo, Pablo Màs, Joaquin Campuzano Gomez

Catalunya Llops 7.8 (50) – Netherlands Flying Dutchmen 1.6 (12)
Goals:
Netherlands: Jort Kolman
Catalunya: N/A
Best:
Netherlands: Jort Kolmn, Pedro Miguel Zuidberg Dos Martires, Michael van Eijk
Catalunya: N/A

PT2_0001L

BOWL

France Les Coqs 5.5 (35) – Scotland Clansmen 1.6 (12)
Goals:
France Goal: Henry Tiefenchach 2, Jeremy Sardim 2, Clement Bouchet
Scotland: Daniel Connor
Best:
France: Jeremy Sardim, Julien Dagois, Gregoire Chatel
Scotland: Cameron Goodall, David Gramble, Michael Douglas

Austria Avalanche 9.6 (60) – Crusaders 2.3 (15)
Goals:
Austria: Erwin Shober 3, Andreas Jauk 2, Michael Jud 2, Markus Mayer, Richard Claasen, Bernhard Plank
Crusaders: Tomas Nemec 2
Best:
Austria: Bernhard Plank, Michael Jud, Andreas Jauk
Crusaders: Tomas Nemec, Dominic Meny, Alex Overton

Austria Avalanche 4.1 (25) – France Les Coqs 4.8 (32)
HT: Austria Avalanche 4.0 (24) – France Les Coqs 1.2 (8)
Goals:
Austria: Erwin Shober 2, Michael Jud, Markus Mayer
France: Julien Gil, Pierre Boscart, Gregoire Chatel
Best:
Austria: Markus Mayer, Erwin Schober, Michael Jud
France: Pierre–Etienne Dandeleix, Gregoire Chatel, Alban Schieber

Crusaders 0.1 (1) – Scottish Clansmen 8.12 (60)
Goals:
Scotland: Daniel Connor 2, Scott O’Hara 2, Ross Thomson, Alex Young, Gus Thomson
Best:
Crusaders: James Clayton, Tomas Nemec, Warmon Pliestic
Scotland: N/A

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QUARTER FINALS EURO CUP

German Black Eagles 4.2 (26) – Swedish Elks 1.4 (10)
Goals:
Germany: Matthias Kluseman 3, Florian Naumann
Sweden: Jacob Nilsson
Best:
Germany: Florian Naumann, Martin Schettoff, Johannes Mast
Sweden: Hampus Olsson, SIgurd Kristisansen, Jens Ebbesson

Croatian Knights 4.1 (25) – England Dragonslayers 3.4 (22)
Goals:
Croatia: Tomislav Cvetko 2, Lovre Cudina, Josip Kravar
England: N/A
Best:
Croatia: Tomislav Cvetko, Josip Kravar, Tompa
England: N/A

Italy Azzurri 0.1 (1) – Ireland Warriors 5.10 (40)
Goals:
Ireland: David Miller, Roch Hanmore, Cillian Conboy, Gareth Carragher, Gavin Murray
Best:
Italy: Filippo Allosio, Andrea Lorenzi, Thomas Diana
Ireland: David Miller, Gareth Carragher, Ciaran Caffrey

Denmark Vikings 5.3 (33) – Welsh Dragons 3.2 (20)
Goals:
Denmark: Troels Ottesen 4, Jens Djenes
Wales: N/A
Best:
Denmark:Troels Ottesen, Jens Djenes, Thore Lauritzen
Wales: N/A

England Dragonslayers 2.5 (17) – Welsh Dragons 7.6 (48)
N/A

Swedish Elks 6.9 (45) – Italy Azzurri 2.2 (14)
N/A

SEMI AND FINALS EURO CUP

Croatian Knights 7.9 (51) – German Black Eagles 2.4 (16)
HT: Croatian Knights 4.4 (28) – German Black Eagles 1.0 (6)
Goals:
Croatia: Josip Kravar 3, Josip Habljak, Jan Dolezal, Tomislav Cvetko, Misel Lubina, Zvone Marinovic
Germany: Stefen Risse, Matthias Kluseman
Best:
Croatia: Josip Habljak, Josip Kravar, Ivan Lijovic
Germany: N/A 

Ireland Warriors 2.1 (13) – Denmark Vikings 7.10 (52)
HT: Ireland Warriors 1.1 (7) – Denmark Vikings 4.4 (28)
Goals:
Ireland: Roch Hamore 2
Denmark: Mikkel Kjoge 3, Nicolai Secher 2, Troels Ottesen, Mathias Biron
Best:
Ireland: Eoin O’Sullivan, Kevin O’Brien, Roch Hanmore
Denmark: Mikkel Kjoge, Troels Ottesen, Thore Lauritzen

Ireland Warriors 7.6 (48) – German Black Eagles 2.2 (14)
HT: Ireland Warriors 2.2 (14) – German Black Eagles 1.1 (7)
Goals:
Ireland: Coilin O’Londrian 3, Roch Hanmore 2, Kevin O’Brien 2, Gerard Walls
Germany: N/A
Best:
Ireland: Gerard Walls, Coilin O’Londrain, Ciaran Caffrey
Germany: N/A 

Denmark Vikings 6.4 (40) – Croatian Knights 2.4 (16)
HT: Denmark Vikings 2.3 (15) – Croatian Knights 1.1 (7)
Goals:
Denmark: Troels Ottesen 3, Nathan Campion, Mikkel Kjoge, Mathias Biron
Croatia: N/A
Best:
Denmark: Nathan Campion, Mikkel Kjoge, Mathias Biron
Croatia: N/A

PT2_0852 PT2_0888

AEC Men's Scores

Women’s Axios Euro Cup 2014

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This year’s edition of the Women’s Axios Euro Cup was a breakthrough success. It was headlined by a hard-fought final game between the England Vixens and Ireland Banshees, who stayed undefeated throughout the tournaments five matches shutting out both the Denmark Valkyries and Les Gauloises early in their campaign.

The Vixens knew they were up for a fight as they had lost by 16 points earlier in the tournament. They managed to keep the final game to a one goal spread but under the leadership of Marie Keating’s three goals, The Banshees seized their fourth Euro Cup win.

But some of the tournament’s most important highlights were not made during match play, but rather before it all even started. 2014 had the highest participation for the Women’s tournament since its conception. Newcomers to the tournament included the Denmark Valkyries, Scotland Sirens and finalist Vixens. With 5 teams participating, each team saw action at least four times. Due to low participation, in the past the Women’s tournament was limited to only one game, usually including a Crusaders team (2012 and 2013), which was disbanded and expanded into the three new participating teams.

An Italian player, Federica Robbiano joined the Sirens team, in order to top off their numbers. The same situation arose with a few Swedish athletes who played for the Valkyries. Hopefully, Robbiano and the Swedes will help the growth and development of the sport in their countries and return to next years Euro cup with full teams of their own, as did those Ex –Crusaders.

PT2_6898  PT1_7351  

France Les Gauloises 0.2 (2) – England Vixens 7.8 (50)
Goals:
England: Vanessa Temple 4, Michelle Healy, Rania Ramadan
Best:
France: Camille Portal , Coline Duquet, Stephanie Durand
England: Vanessa Temple, Rania Ramadan, Polly Moane

Ireland Banshees 4.7 (31) – Denmark Valkyries 0.0 (0)
Goals:
Ireland: Rachel McGee 2, Carolann Cassidy 2, Paula Keatley
Best:
Denmark: Elizabeth Nielson, Maria Mose, Anne Sofie Friedberg
Ireland: Rachel McCann, Aimee Hazley, Paula Keatley

Scotland Sirens 7.1 (43) –  France Les Gauloises 1.0 (6)
Goals:
France: Berengere Portal
Scotland: Erin Walter 3, Kristy Gray, Hazel Stevenson
Best:
France: Camille Portal, Chloe Raso, Berenger Portal
Scotland: Eve Shao, Helen Cameron, Carolyn Baker

England Vixens 1.1 (7) – Ireland Banshees 3.5 (23)
Goals:
England: Rania Ramadan
Ireland: Marie Keating 2, Emma Kelly
Best:
England: Lisa Mchugh, Vanessa Temple, Rania Ramadan
Ireland: Marie Keating, Emma Kelly, Paula Keatley

Denmark Valkyries 0.0 (0) – Scotland Sirens 4.5 (29)
Goals:
Scotland:Erin Walter 3, Federica Robbiano
Best:
Scotland: Erin Walter, Hazel Stevenson, Carolyn Cameron
Denmark: Elizabeth Nielson, Maria Mose , Josefin Larson

France Les Gauloises 0.0 (0) – Ireland Banshees 9.11 (65)
Goals:
Ireland: Aimee Hazley 4, Marie Keating 2, Emma Kelly 2, Carolann Cassidy 2, Rachel McGee
Best:
France: Charlene Charmale, Camille Portal, Anne Pille
Ireland: Marie Keating, Emma Kelly, Paula Keatley

England Vixens 11.7 (73) – Denmark Valkyries 0.0 (0)
Goals:
England: Laura Turner 5, Rania Ramadan 2, Vanessa Temple 2, Polly Moane
Best:
England: N/A
Denmark: Anne Sophie Friedberg, Katharina Wittenberg, Stine Magnussen 

Ireland Banshees 3.5 (23) – Scotland Sirens 1.3 (9)
Goals:
Ireland: Emma Kelly, Paula Keatley, Aimee Hazley
Scotland: Eve Shao
Best:
Ireland: Emma Kelly, Marie Keating, Fiona Roarty
Scotland: Helen Cameron, Kristy Gray, Eileen Myles

France Les Gauloises 1.0 (6) – Denmark Valkyries 1.2 (8)
Goals:
France: Berengere Portal
Denmark: N/A
Best:
France: Charlene Charnal, Berengere Portal, Camille Portal
Denmark: Anne Sophie Friedberg, Kathie Aepkers, Mettle Haurum

England Vixens 4.4 (28) – Scotland Sirens 0.2 (2)
Goals:
England: Rania Ramadan  4
Best:
England: Rania Ramadan, Chalotte Ellen Eales, Vanessa Temple
Scotland: N/A

Grand Final

England Vixens 4.2 (26) – Ireland Banshees 5.1 (31)
Goals:
Ireland: Marie Keating 3, Rachel McGee 2
England: N/A
Best:
Ireland: Marie Keating, Rachel McGee, Aimee Hazley
England: N/A

 

AEC Women's Scores

2014 Axios Euro Cup Review

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The fifth annual Axios Euro Cup drew to a close over the weekend, with over 350 players from 19 nations competing at the London Irish Rugby Club facilities. The Denmark Vikings took out the mens competition defeating the Croatian Knights in a hard fought contest in which the Danish proved their class with a young and rapidly developing collection of players. The final score was 6.4.40- 2.4.16 to the Vikings.

The Irish Banshees managed to hold on to the lead beating first timers the English Vixens by just 5 points with a final score of 5.1.31- 4.2.26 in the Women’s Division.

France took took out Division 2 to take home the Euro Bowl and in Division 3 Norway defeated Spain to claim the Euro plate.

2014 Axios Euro Cup was the biggest Euro Cup in the history with 16 men’s and 5 women’s national teams represented, including the new women’s teams the English Vixens, Denmak Valkyries and Scottish Sirens.

Irish Banshees

2014 Axios Euro Cup Team of the Tournament:

Mens
Anders Thomt – Norway
Michel Van Eijk – Netherlands
Micheal Larsson – Sweden
Micheal Douglas – Scotland
Pierre Etienne Dandaleix – France
Myles Hudson – England
Kevin O’brien – Ireland
Bernhard Plank – Austria
James Clayton – Crusaders
Josip Habljak – Croatia
Mikkel Kjoge – Denmark
Aleix Ferrer – Catalunya
Florian Neuman – Germany
Juan Jose Martin – Spain
David Saunders – Wales
Andrea Lorenzi – Italy

Golden Whistle – Oscar Ayaddi
Team Manager – Martin Schittegg
Coach – Morten Ensbye

Womens
Elizabeth Nielsen – Denmark
Helen Cameron – Scotland
Vanessa Temple – England
Camille Portal – France
Marie Keating – Ireland

Team Manager – Morten Merhoj
Coach – Ian Baxter

Scores of the day (click on the picture to enlarge):

Men’s competition:

AEC Men's Scores

Women’s competition:

AEC Women's Scores

2014 Axios Euro Cup ranking:

Men’s:

1- Denmark
2- Croatia
3- Ireland
4- Germany
5- Wales
6- England
7- Sweden
8- Italy
9- France
10- Austria
11- Scotland
12- Crusaders
13- Norway
14- Spain
15- Netherlands
16- Catalunya

Women’s:

1- Ireland
2- England
3- Scotland
4- Denmark
5- France

AFL Europe would like to thank all the umpires and volunteers for their hard work on the day as the event wouldn’t have been possible without them.

Special thanks to our sponsors Axios, Coopers, Belushi’s, St Christophers Inn, Stack Cup, Generator, Strap-Med for their support and many thanks to London Irish Rugby Club and Hazelwood Centre for their collaboration and allowing the teams to use their amazing venue.

The Euro Cup remains a highlight on the European footy calendar and we look forward to the sixth edition in 2015. Stay tuned for more information or if your community would like to find out about submitting a bid please get in touch.