IRELAND’S MEN’S AND women’s national teams are assembling in Melbourne ahead of the fifth edition of the AFL International Cup.
The competition which does not permit the participation of Australians and is meant as a World Cup for overseas amateur teams begins tomorrow in the Victorian capital, with the Grand Finals scheduled for Saturday, 23 August.
The men’s final will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground ahead of the blockbuster AFL clash between Hawthorn and Geelong, while the women’s final will be held at the traditional home of the Richmond Tigers, Punt Road Oval.
Ireland has a tremendous record in the tournament, having won both titles in the previous edition in Sydney and Melbourne in 2011. The men’s team, The Blu Marine Irish Warriors are the only team to have won the trophy twice, winning the inaugural tournament in the MCG in 2002, where they beat Papua New Guinea in the final, three years ago, they came from behind to beat the same opposition in the final at the storied Melbourne venue, the team featuring notable inter-county footballers such as Westmeath’s Paul Sharry and John Heslin.
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This year’s team will be Coached by David Stynes, the younger brother of AFL legend Jim, who himself has played on both of Ireland’s winning teams.
The men’s team are first seeds in the 18 Nation competition and will play Fiji, France and Nauru in the Group stage. The women’s side includes many of the side which won the first Women’s division in 2011 and will be captained by Dublin’s Aimee-Louise Hazley, with Laura Corrigan from Cavan as vice captain. A notable debutant is Regina Curtin who has won All Irelands with Cork.
Strong Ireland teams bound for Aussie Rules World Cup
IRELAND’S MEN’S AND women’s national teams are assembling in Melbourne ahead of the fifth edition of the AFL International Cup.
The competition which does not permit the participation of Australians and is meant as a World Cup for overseas amateur teams begins tomorrow in the Victorian capital, with the Grand Finals scheduled for Saturday, 23 August.
The men’s final will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground ahead of the blockbuster AFL clash between Hawthorn and Geelong, while the women’s final will be held at the traditional home of the Richmond Tigers, Punt Road Oval.
Ireland has a tremendous record in the tournament, having won both titles in the previous edition in Sydney and Melbourne in 2011. The men’s team, The Blu Marine Irish Warriors are the only team to have won the trophy twice, winning the inaugural tournament in the MCG in 2002, where they beat Papua New Guinea in the final, three years ago, they came from behind to beat the same opposition in the final at the storied Melbourne venue, the team featuring notable inter-county footballers such as Westmeath’s Paul Sharry and John Heslin.
This year’s team will be Coached by David Stynes, the younger brother of AFL legend Jim, who himself has played on both of Ireland’s winning teams.
The men’s team are first seeds in the 18 Nation competition and will play Fiji, France and Nauru in the Group stage. The women’s side includes many of the side which won the first Women’s division in 2011 and will be captained by Dublin’s Aimee-Louise Hazley, with Laura Corrigan from Cavan as vice captain. A notable debutant is Regina Curtin who has won All Irelands with Cork.
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