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Around the Grounds

AFL Canada making the trip over the Atlantic in 2017!

AFL Europe and AFL Canada announced plans for the men’s and women’s Canadian Development teams to travel to London in May 2017. Both tournaments will be taking place from the 19th to 21st of May with a round robin fixture set in place.

To read more about the tournament click through the link below.

Coyotes sit atop the CNFA ladder

The CNFA ladder is starting to take shape. Following the weekends fixtures, the Cergy-Pointoise Coyotes are sitting on top for the 2016/17 season. The ASP Tigers have jumped into second position in front of the ALFA Lions who are in third with a game in hand. The Bordeaux Bombers have played 4 games and round out the top-four places. The two Parisian sides are yet to hit their straps but are in 5th and 6th  as the Toulouse Hawks and new-comers, the Blagnac Aviators, are battling it out for the wooden spoon.

The next few rounds before Christmas are incredibly important for setting up sides 2nd half of the year and will go a long way to determining the make-up of the top 4.

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AFL Europe Footy Show kicks off! AFL Europe Footy Show kicks off! AFL Europe Footy Show kicks off!

Monday night was the first instalment of the AFL Europe Footy Show after a 2-year hiatus. Despite a few technical issues and an annoying echo, we were able to put together a 45-minute show full of entertainment. Special guest, Oliver Howard, discussed his aims and objectives as the new Chairman along with general discussions on all things footy.

Improvements to the quality of the stream (and the general presenting) will occur over the course of the first few shows. Massive thanks to everyone who tuned in. We’ll announce when the next show is scheduled well in advance.

If you’d like to listen to the recording from the first show, click through the link below.

 

Old vs New: Alumni take the win over the Students at UoB

It was a battle between old and new at the weekend for the University of Birmingham Aussie Rules Football Club. And it was the old boys who had the last laugh against the current students in their annual hit-out. A great initiative by the team at UoB keeping their alumni in the mix with all things Aussie Rules at the Uni. The final score in the match was 137 to 95 in favour of the Alumni.

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New President in the DAFL

The Danish Australian Football League (DAFL) will be under the guidance of a new president in 2017. Thore Lauritzen was elected to take over the job from Simon Malone after his 2 years of great service. Thore has been an integral member in the DAFL community over a number of years. He is the captain of the national side, coach of the Farum Cats as well as being crowned best afield in this year’s DAFL Grand Final.

Congratulations on the appointment Thore and all the best in your new role.

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1st Round of the Rebel Shield goes to the Bombers

The first leg of the Rebel Shield took place on Friday evening at Mardyke Arena in Cork. It was the students, the UCC Bombers, who claimed the spoils over their cousins, the Leeside Lions. The hit-out was great prep for the Bombers who are gearing up for the upcoming Fitzpatrick Cup in early 2017.

The Lions will also take valuable match practice from the game as they look for a serious assault on the 2017 Champions League in April next year.

The return fixture should be hotly contested between these two clubs with the difference not too great to overcome for the Lions.

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International Rules set for two-test hit out in 2017

After a year off, the International Rules series between the AFL and GAA has been set for November 2017. Following the two one-off tests in 2014 and 2015, the 2017 instalment will feature a two-test series at yet to be determined venues.

Australia will play host to the series and will present a side made up entirely of All-Australian players, as has been the case in the previous two series.

Check out the full press release from the Official AFL website.

http://www.afl.com.au/news/2016-11-22/international-rules-series-returns-with-australia-to-host-two-tests

AFL Wales Footballers Run for a Cause

On 11th April 2015, Wales international Australian Rules Footballers Joe Street and Evan Phillips started an extraordinary 235 mile charity run across the UK to raise money for Cardiac Risk in the Young http://www.c-r-y.org.uk.

They set off from the Liberty Stadium during Swansea City’s Premier League fixture against Everton on Saturday 11th April, and plan to run 212 miles all the way to London in time to then complete the 2015 Virgin Money London Marathon on April 26th two weeks later. The challenge, sees the pair run an average of 15 miles each day throughout, cross the Severn Bridge, and navigate past assorted sporting landmarks such as The Millenium Stadium, Chepstow Racecourse, Bath Recreation Ground and the home of England Rugby, Twickenham Stadium.

In 2013, a close friend of Joe’s, semi-professional cyclist Tim Butt, suffered a near-fatal cardiac arrest. Since then Tim and his friends have started doing assorted fundraising events for Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY), with this run being the largest. Backed by the charity, and with funding from Swansea Tennis Centre, the boys are also making a short Youtube documentary which will follow their trip, whilst also telling the story of why they have chosen to run for CRY & how the charity can help to prevent sudden cardiac death in young people through their free heart screening events.

You can track the pair’s progress by following their official twitter page @SwanseaToLondon, & if you wish to donate to their cause, you may do so by visiting uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ontheroadagain, or by texting JOEV88 £10 to 70070.

 

 

Sarah Ongarello

 

How to watch Australia vs Ireland in the International Rules this weekend

The Aussies have been waiting a long 12 months to have a crack at redemption after a poor showing by the national team last time around. Australia goes in with a team full of current or previous All Australian players whilst the Irish are also full of national heroes. It is sure to be a cracking match so don’t miss out.

2014 Virgin Australia International Rules – International Broadcast Schedule

If you are in continental Europe you may even be lucky enough to hear our CEO Ben MacCormack commentating on Eurosport 2. Send in any questions or comments on the game via twitter on @BenMacCormack