Everything about The Australian Football International Cup totally explained
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's open to
worldwide senior competition, although
Australia (the home and world's strongest nation in the game) doesn't participate (as it would most likely dominate the competition).
Melbourne, Australia has hosted both the 2002 and 2005 tournaments, along with some games in
Wangaratta in
2005). Matches in the 2008 tournament will be played in Melbourne and
Warrnambool.
The inaugural tournament was the
2002 Australian Football International Cup and it has been held every 3 years since.
The
2008 Australian Football International Cup will be held in Melbourne with between 14 and 16 nations competing, after which the AFL intends to resume competition every 4 years.
It is expected that there will also be
women's teams in attendance from the
USA,
Canada and possibly
Papua New Guinea, and games may be played against Australian women's club teams. The women's matches won't be part of the International Cup 2008, although there's a possibility of a women's division at future tournaments.
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).
Results
Competing Teams, Nicknames & Placings
Ranking
Further Information
Get more info on 'Australian Football International Cup'.
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