Aussie Rules included in Africa Games

The African Games exhibition match was a great success - see http://www.africanfooty.com for more info. For video footage of the trip please see http://www.africanfooty.com/video We plan on returning in 2012, playing matches in Mozambique, Swaziland & South Africa.

I haven't heard anything more on this story about the demonstration game at the African games, but here's a story of a young African kid making a bit of a splash in the SANFL: http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20110523174709436 Emmanuel Irra is a Ugandan first came to our attention last year when, as a 16 year old, he was part of the World XVIII competing in the National U16 championships. He's still only 17, and has just got his first taste of senior footy with South Adelaide. He's elegible for pre-listing by GWS.

The Oslo Crows have started the Sweden West AFL season with a 3 point win over Goteburg, 6.11 to 6.8: http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20110519182730617 In other results: SAFF: Solna Axemen 19.16 (130) def Arsta swans 14.12 (96) Sodermalm 16.16 (112) def Falun Diggers 3.5 (23) Goteborg 12.9 (81) def Karlstad 2.3 (15) Oslo 7.9 (51) def Karlstad 4.9 (33) Sodermalm 20.21 (141) def Arsta 4.13 (37) Bromma 29.23 Falun diggers 4.7 DAFL Jutland 11.17 (83) Helsingborg 4.1 (25) Farum 11.10 (76) def Port Malmo 5.5 (35) Port Malmo 12.15 (87) def Jutland 9.11 (75) AFLG Stuttgart Emus 80 def Frankfurt Redbacks 0 Rheinland Lions 24.13 (157) def Hamburg Dockers 1.3 (9) Berlin crocodiles 12.9 (81) def Munich Kangaroos 5.2 (32) FAFL Helsinki Heatseekers 10.13 (73) def Salo Juggernauts 6.4 (40) Turku dockers 14.5 (89) def Waasa Wombats 3.4 (22)

The World Baseball Classic is no pre season friendly. It is exactly what its name implies an international competition involving 16 nations fielding their best teams. In almost all these countries, including Australia baseball has been played for over 100 years.

Baseball is the national game of the US and wasnt played outside their borders extensively till last century. They have the International baseball classic which is a pre-season friendly so no real inetrnational competition. Therefore AFL can be our national code without international competition. The AFL will just take the 1.25 bn....

Common usage is AFL. Deal with it. Last night, on Four Corners, Kerry even said in his closing that next week's episode deals with "sports such as AFL".

Still no outside verification of this story. Maybe this game is just being played at the same time, and isn't really part of the Africa Games at all. Anyone know?

"But the AFL chooses not to" That's a bit like saying International Rules clubs choose not to play each other.

technicalities are the soul of the law :D Agreed, the war is a long way from finished, as it were. Nice to have a civil discussion on the subject. cheers.

I really admire your passion, Wookie. Let's say you win tonight on points. The battle that is. Congratulations. The war may take a bit longer to pan out though. So, good night, I must away.

If other codes removed non competive nations from their world cup pools and other international competitions you might be suprised at just how small the elite groups are. And nothing you've ssaid lessens the fact that the Australian game is being played between multiple nations overseas. They may not play us in the sport yet, but they are playing each other in both 9-a-side and 18-a-side. International competition is no less international for not involving Australia. Sure we could be like soccer and have Australia beat the Solomon Islands 33-0 or flog PNG annually like Rugby league, or beat up on japan or italy like Rugby union, OR we could trounce small african nations in the cricket. But the AFL chooses not to.

When, say, USA or Denmark (or anyone else, bar Ireland) play Australia 18 a side each and are genuinely competitive with Australia, then you will have a competition, whatever you want to call it. If that happens, I will give you the win in this debate.

its whatever they want to call it. Soccer refer to internationals, as internationals or friendly. Cricket uses tests or internationals. League and Union as tests. Its all in the name. International Rules is defined as a test by the AFL and GAA, they could call it any number of things. The fact is the matches are played against other nations. No matter how many are involved. You're also still glossing over the point thats been introduced several times in the overall discussion where in Europe and North America, 9-a-side Australian Football has seen literally hundreds of international matches played. Again, just because you dont like something doesnt make it any less true.

Thank you Ian - this is the most informative post I've seen on the Roar for sometime !

International Rules has a round ball, rectangular field, a goal net and cross bar (along with some features of Australian Rules). Since 1967, only Ireland and Australia have competed as international rivals. While there may be no minimum number of countries for a test match technically, it is not credible to call matches between two countries a genuine international competition. More properly, it is a "derby", not a test match.

Like i said, theres no minimum statute governing just how many countries have to be involved before you can call an international game a test. Ive not suggested International Rules is the same game as pure Austgralian Football, it does however feature AFL rules (as well as Gaelic ones), is played by AFL players (as well as GAA ones), and features two different nations. Just because you dont like stuff doesnt mean its not true.

No again. Rugby union has many competing countries, not 3 or 4. Rugby League maybe so, but that is still more than 2, and I repeat, International Rules is still not the same game. Try again.

Its the AFL All Australian team v Ireland in test matches. Pure and simple. Theres no set country participation minimum for games to constitute tests. Take other codes for example, The majority of tests for Union and league are held between 3 or 4 countries where Australia is involved - and usually South Africa, NZ and England at that.

No. That's not right at all. International Rules is an entirely different game. Anyway, how often can you keep bashing the poor old Irish? Tests do not constitute games between 2 countries only. That would not be credible. Nor can you have a minimal pool of 10 or 20 players only in other countries that may eventually get AFL experience and then say they represent their country of origin; that would be a fraud. But the AFL doesn't see the contrived nature of such a thing for what it is.

we're bringing it back home