Examine individual changes

'{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2011}} [[Image:CEAFL.jpg|thumb|Action from a [[Central European Australian Football League Championships|CEAFL]] match between Austria and Finland in 2007]][[Australian rules football]] is played in [[Europe]] at an amateur level in a number of countries. The oldest and largest leagues are those in the [[United Kingdom]], [[Ireland]] and [[Denmark]], each nation having a number of clubs and organised junior programs. The governing body for Australian Football in Europe was founded in Frankfurt in January 2010; the body was initially called the European Australian Football Association, but changed its name to [[AFL Europe]] at a general assembly meeting in Milan in October of the same year.<ref>[http://www.afleurope.org/index.php?p=custom8 AFL Europe - About Us]</ref> It currently has 19 member nations. The sport has grown from a few clubs and leagues started by expatriate Australians in the late 1980s and early 1990s, to now having established leagues in over 15 nations,<ref name="ReferenceB">[http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20100127224041237 15 Nations found European Australian Football Association in Frankfurt]</ref> with the majority of players being non-Australian.<ref>[http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20081019235950988 AFL Europe proposed]</ref> [[Ireland]], [[Denmark]], the [[United Kingdom]], [[Spain]], [[Sweden]], [[France]] and [[Finland]] have thus far sent national teams to the [[Australian Football International Cup]]. The two main cup competitions played between nations in Europe are the 16-a-side [[European Championships in Australian Football]], which are played under rules requiring teams to be composed entirely of locals, and the nine-a-side [[EU Cup|Euro Cup]] (formerly known as the EU Cup), where expat Australians can be included in the squads under a handicap system. Cup competitions held in the past have included the [[Atlantic Alliance Cup]] and [[Central European Australian Football League Championships]]. In addition, there are tests matches played between Great Britain and Ireland, a tri-series ([[European Australian Football Tri-nations Tournament]]) between Germany, Denmark and Sweden, and a tri-series between Croatia, Austria and the Czech Republic. ==Andorra== The Australian rules football club of [[Andorra]] formed in early 2008, with plans to compete in the Catalan AFL. Logistical problems saw them withdraw from the league before the first round.<ref name="worldfootynews.com">[http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20080918113553975 France win inaugural "World 9s" in Catalonia]</ref> Andorra made its first appearance at the WAFF (World Australian Football Federation) World 9s in September 2008, which was played in [[Valls]], [[Catalonia]]. The first ever international goal for the Andorran team was kicked by Sumra Sallis and the team went on to defeat Spain in their first international match. Andorra finished equal third in the competition which included teams from Senegal, Catalonia, Argentina, France and Spain. France went on to win the final which was played against Catalonia.<ref name="worldfootynews.com"/> In 2009 the Andorra Crows made their debut in the Catalan AFL.<ref>[http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20090326210509860 Catalan league spanning three nations in 2009]</ref><ref>[http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20090421180110372 Andorra Ravens impress against Valls on debut in LFAC 2009]</ref> The team's Catalan name is Corbs d'Andorra, which translates at "Ravens", but they use the name Crows when referring to the team in English. ==Austria== [[Australian rules football]] in [[Austria]] has been played since 2004, when the nation's first club was founded in [[Vienna]]. The club began life as the Vienna Dingos, changing their name to the [[Vienna Kangaroos]] in 2006. In the same year and doubling as the National Team, the Kangaroos competed in a tri-nations series against [[Croatia]] and the [[Czech Republic]]. A second club was formed in [[Graz]] in 2008, named the Styrian DownUnderDogs. The first game between the two Austrian clubs was played on 25 October 2008 in [[Zwaring]], [[Styria]]. The first Austrian premiership series was contested between the two teams in 2010, with Vienna winning the series 3-2.<ref name="European Roundup Part 4">[http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20110114081438619 European Roundup Part 4] from worldfootynews.com</ref> The Austrian national team was considering attending the [[2011 Australian Football International Cup]], but later set a debut at the 2014 tournament as a more realistic goal.<ref>[http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20110117094954938 Positive Growth for Footy in Austria, but IC11 off the plan] from worldfootynews.com</ref> ==Belgium== Australian rules football was first played in Chatelet in 1919 by Australian soldiers in World War I.<ref>[http://www.pictureaustralia.org/apps/pictureaustralia?action=PADisplay&mode=display&rs=resultset-776609&no=149 Message<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> [[Australian rules football]] has been played in [[Belgium]] since 2004, with a team based in [[Brussels]]. The Brussels Saints have played matches against the Paris Cockerels and teams from around [[Europe]], including winning the 2005 [[EU Cup]], although since this era, the club has gone into recess and is not currently active. ==Croatia== [[Australian rules football]] in [[Croatia]] began with the first official team, known as the Zagreb Giants, in January 2006, although there had been efforts for many years before this to found a team in [[Zagreb]]. In 2006, the team began a tri-nations series against the [[Czech Republic]] and [[Austria]], winning the first event. In late 2006 plans were laid for a new team in [[Rijeka]] called the Sharks, although these did not come to fruition. The Zagreb Giants formed an alliance with [[Australian Football League]] club the [[Hawthorn Hawks]], changing their name to the [[Zagreb Hawks]]. Croatia's second club was created in 2008 under the name Kapitol Saints, with a series of domestic matches played between the Saints and the Hawks. This series has continued in 2009, with the Saints changing their name to the Agram Power, Agram being an old name for the city of [[Zagreb]]. There have been beginnings of a national governing body set up under the name Croatian Association of Australian Football. The national team has been nicknamed the [[Croatian Knights]].<ref name="ReferenceA">[http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20090720192229472 Local Footy building in Prague and Zagreb]</ref> Croatia is one of the stronger International teams, having come 1st (2010), 2nd (2008) and 3rd (2009) in the three previous EU Cups The 2009 [[EU Cup]] was hosted by the Croatian Knights, in the town of [[Samobor]], 25&nbsp;km from Zagreb. ==Czech Republic== [[Australian rules football]] has been played in the [[Czech Republic]] since around 2003, when there were efforts to start a club in [[Prague]] known as the Tigers. The first lasting club was founded in 2005, known as the Czech Lions. The Lions remained the only team in the Czech Republic for the next three years, playing mainly in tournaments against other European teams, hosting the [[Central European Australian Football League Championships|CEAFL Championships]] in 2006.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> The Czech AFL hosted the [[EU Cup]] in Prague in 2008, hosted at [[Slavia Rugby Club]]. In 2009, the Czech AFL took steps to create a domestic competition in the Czech Republic, with the creation of two sides known as the All-Stars and the Marauders. As of July 2009, the two sides had around 30 active playing members, of which around one half were [[Czech people|Czech]]s, one third expatriate Australians, and the remainder from other nationalities. The national representative side of the Czech AFL still competes under the name Czech Lions.<ref name="ReferenceA"/> For the 2010 season, [http://www.cafl.cz/en_US/cafl-aussie-rules-football-team CAFL] has expanded to four teams. The All Stars have been re-branded as the [http://www.cafl.cz/en_US/cafl-aussie-rules-football-team/vinohrady-hawks/ Vinohrady Hawks], the Marauders are now the [http://www.cafl.cz/en_US/cafl-aussie-rules-football-team/vinohrady-hawks/ Prague Cats] and two new teams [http://www.cafl.cz/en_US/cafl-aussie-rules-football-team/prague-dragons/ Prague Dragons] and [http://www.cafl.cz/en_US/cafl-aussie-rules-football-team/prague-kings/ Prague Kings] have been created. As well as significantly expanding the local league, The National team, The Czech Lions will be playing more international games this year. Making 2010 a significant year of expansion for C.A.F.L. Along with these changes C.A.F.L. games are now played at the Sparta Rugby Field a new facility in Prague. ==Denmark== {{main|Australian rules football in Denmark}} Australian rules football in Denmark is governed by the [[Danish Australian Football League]] (DAFL). The league has grown to over 300 senior players and has one of the most successful junior programs outside Australia with a few hundred young players playing regular club football annually. The DAFL is often considered the largest Australian rules football competition outside the English speaking world. The national team, the [[Denmark Vikings]], competed at the 2002 International Cup, finishing in fourth place. They withdrew in 2005 due to financial reasons, but returned for the 2008 event. ==Finland== {{main|Australian rules football in Finland}} Australian rules football in Finland is controlled by the Finland AFL, who formed in 2006 after the creation of Finland's first Australian football club around a year earlier. Domestic matches began in 2007 with two teams, the [[Helsinki|Helsinki Heatseekers]] and [[Salo|Salo Juggernauts]]. A third team, the [[Espoo|Espoo Roos]] was created in 2008. In 2009, the Finland AFL saw a three team domestic competition kick off (as the Espoo Roos combined with the Helsinki heatseekers), with the creation of the [[Turku|Turku Dockers]]. The Finland AFL hopes to have a team from [[Tampere]] or other larger cities to commence in future with a team being developed in Vaasa. 2010 saw three teams once again battle out for the season, with the once powerhouse Helsinki going winless for the year, the grand final was played between Salo and 2009 winners, Turku. Once again, Turku was too strong for its opposition on the day and ran out comfortable winners 19.17 131 to 8.4 52. The Finland Icebreakers are the representative [[Australian rules football]] team of [[Finland]], formerly known as the Finnish Lions. They have twice won the [[Central European Australian Football League Championships|Central European AFL Championships]], going back-to-back in 2006 and 2007. While the team was started by Australian expatriates, it has been captained by a Finn ever since the 2nd match with different captains including Kimmo Heikkilä, Jani Saarinen, Fredi Romar and Ville Voivunen. The Icebreakers are now almost exclusively Finns. The Icebreakers have appeared at the EU Cup in 2007, 2008 and 2009 as well as making their first trip to Australian for the [[2008 Australian Football International Cup]]. Finland also appeared in the first ever 16 a side tournament held in copenhagen and Malmö in 2010. ==France== {{main|Australian rules football in France}} As of 2008, Australian rules football was played in France by four clubs in [[Strasbourg]], [[Paris]], [[Montpellier]] and [[Bordeaux Bombers|Bordeaux]], with the Paris Cockerels winning the inaugural national club championship tournament that year. The national league commenced on 28 March 2009 with those four clubs, although new sides are also under formation in [[Perpignan]], [[Toulouse]] and [[Aix en Provence]]. The newly-formed Perpignan Tigers will compete in the Catalan league in 2009. The French national team has competed at the [[EU Cup]], and made their [[Australian Football International Cup]] debut in 2011. ==Germany== {{main|Australian rules football in Germany}} The [[Australian Football League Germany]] plays a home-and-away season featuring clubs based in [[Berlin]], [[Munich]], [[Cologne]], [[Frankfurt]], [[Stuttgart]] and [[Hamburg]]. The official German national team (the Black Eagles) first appeared in the tri-series with Sweden and Denmark in 2006, although ad hoc German representative teams had appeared at other events in the past. ==Iceland== Australian rules football has been played in [[Iceland]] since 20 May 2009, when Friðgeir Torfi Ásgeirsson, who had played in the [[Danish Australian Football League]], rounded up friends in a local park to kick some footy.<ref>[http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20090608093736660 DAFL Old Boys kicking off footy in Iceland]</ref> Before the first club was founded in Iceland, a national team, known as the Icelandic Ravens, was assembled for the [[2009 EU Cup Australian rules football|2009 EU Cup]].<ref>[http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20090831205520610 EU Cup 2009 - Team Profiles on WorldFootyNews.com]</ref> The first teams were founded in April 2010 and are known as the Dragons, the Eagles and the Bulls. The team names come from Iceland's coat of arms.<ref>[http://www.andspyrna.is/about-the-team/saga-asi Saga ASÍ]</ref> The 3 teams play in a 9-a-side league and finished their inaugural season on 18 May 2010 with the Bulls as the first premiers of the IceAFL (Icelandic Australian Footbal League).<ref>[http://mbl.is/mm/frettir/innlent/2010/09/18/meistarar_i_andspyrnu/ Meistarar í andspyrnu]</ref> ==Ireland== {{main|Australian Rules Football League of Ireland}} {{see also|Irish experiment}} [[Image:Pack mark by irish player.jpg|thumb|right|150px|Ireland's All-International Mike Finn takes a spectacular mark over a pack of South African opponents in the 2008 AFL International Cup]] [[Australian rules football]] is a fairly recently-introduced [[team sport]] in [[Ireland]] but the country has a long history of interaction with Australian rules leagues. There has been some awareness of Australian rules football in Ireland since the first [[International rules football]] tests took place in late 1967. Since 1982, the [[Irish experiment]] has seen Irish players becoming professional Australian rules footballers in the [[Australian Football League]]. High profile players include [[Jim Stynes]] and [[Tadhg Kennelly]] among others. As GAA sports are primarily amateur competition and the AFL competition is professional, there is a strong financial lure. Despite Irish players being recruited to the AFL, Aussie Rules was not officially played in Ireland until clubs were formed in [[Dublin]] and [[Belfast]] in 1999. The [[Australian Rules Football League of Ireland]] was formed in October 2000. The [[Irish national Australian rules football team]], first appeared at the [[Atlantic Alliance Cup]] in 2001, going through the tournament undefeated. Their berth in the Grand Final created a small amount of interest in the Irish media.<ref>[http://www.rte.ie/sport/2002/0821/aussierules.html Ireland into Aussie Rules final] from rte.ie</ref> They then went on to win the [[2002 Australian Football International Cup]], and have since remained in the top four, despite not having kept the pace with other emerging nations. The [[International Rules Series]] between the AFL and GAA generated a high amount of media interest in Ireland, although this is more due to the similarity between [[International rules football]] and [[Gaelic football]] than anything related to Aussie Rules. In terms of Australian rules football, the media has covered with interest the successful recruits of the Australian Football League. Television coverage of the sport has grown in Ireland and highlights and game packages are now regularly shown on the [[ESPN]] channel through [[British Sky Broadcasting]] and cable television operator [[UPC Ireland]]. ==Italy== [[Australian rules football]] in [[Italy]] was first played in 2004 with an attempt to start a league based around the city of [[Naples]], under the name Federazione Italiana di Football Australiano (FItAF).<ref>[http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20050225201737914 Movements in Italy]</ref> Four teams in [[Salerno]], [[Naples]], [[San Giorgio]] and [[Barra]] were created, but the league ultimately did not get off the ground. A new group started playing under the name AFL Italia in [[Milan]] in July 2009, who created the first national league in Italy in 2010, with the Rome Blues, Genoa Dockers, Milan Aussie Rulers and Lugano Steinbocks. A friendly match between Rome and Milan in June 2010 became the first match played in [[Rome]]. The new league which also includes teams from [[Genoa]] and cross Switzerland border city [[Lugano]] was supported by prominent Australians [[Tim Fischer]] and [[Amanda Vanstone]].<ref name="news.smh.com.au">http://news.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/italy-hosts-first-aussie-rules-match-20100516-v5yh.html</ref> The 2010 AFL Italia premiership was won by the Rome Blues, who defeated Milan in the Grand Final, held in Rome.<ref name="European Roundup Part 4"/> ===Italian community in Australia=== A large number of [[Italian Australians]] have played professionally in the [[Australian Football League]], including "Mr Football" [[Ron Barassi]], [[Sergio Silvagni]], [[Stephen Silvagni]], [[Robert DiPierdomenico]], [[Saverio Rocca]] and [[Peter Matera]]. In recognition of the contribution made to the sport of Australian rules throughout its history by players of Italian background, the [[VFL/AFL Italian Team of the Century]] was named in June 2007.<ref>[http://www.italianteamofthecentury.com.au/ Italian Team of the Century]</ref> A team representing the Melbourne Italian community also competed at the [[Australian Football Multicultural Cup]] in 2005. ==Netherlands== [[Australian rules football]] was first played in the [[Netherlands]] around 2003, with the creation of the Dutch Australian Football Association (DAFA). This organisation later disappeared but was re-formed in 2007. There was still no formal team or league in the Netherlands, but by late 2006 some steps had been taken with a group training and playing regularly in [[The Hague]] and the national team being nicknamed the Flying Dutchmen (de Vliegende Hollanders). ===League=== 2009 has saw the beginning of rapid growth for the DAFA, with 6 scheduled home and away international games, plus plans for the establishment of 4 domestic teams, in [[Utrecht (city)|Utrecht]], [[Den Haag]], [[Eindhoven]] and [[Amsterdam]]. The first domestic match played in Holland was a friendly between the newly-formed Utrecht Saints and the Rest of Holland played on 9 May in Utrecht.<ref>[http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20090520155228106 Utrecht Saints come up short in Netherlands' first domestic fixture]</ref> Training sessions are held weekly in various locations around the country. The DAFA Premiership was first contested in 2010, featuring the four city teams established in 2009. ===National Team=== The Netherlands National Australian Football Team, The Flying Dutchmen, compete regularly in international friendlies, and participate in the annual Eurocup tournament. EuroCup Results: 2005, London, England: Third place 2006: No competition held. 2007, Hamburg, Germany: Tenth Place In the [[2007 EU Cup Australian rules football|2007 EU Cup]] the Flying Dutchmen finished 10th, losing to [[Belgium]] in the plate final. 2008, Prague, Czech Republic: Ninth Place (Bowl Champions) In 2008 the Flying Dutchmen established a home ground in [[Amstelveen]], near Amsterdam and fielded a team in the [[2008 EU Cup Australian rules football|2008 EU Cup]] in Prague, finishing as bowl champions in 9th place overall. 2009, Zagreb, Croatia: Runners Up At the 2009 EU Cup held in Zagreb, Croatia, The Flying Dutchmen surprised the other 14 competing teams by finishing as Runner-Up, losing to England in the Grand Final. 2010, Milan, Italy: Runners Up At the 2010 EuroCup tournament, The Flying Dutchmen again made the Grand Final, defeating England in the Semi but losing to Croatia in the Final. ==Norway== The Oslo Trolls formed in 2005 as Norway's first Australian rules football club, but didn't play their first match until hosting the Karlstad Dragons from Sweden in August 2008. Prior to this, players from the Trolls had travelled to western Sweden to play in club matches with the teams in [[Karlstad]] and [[Gothenburg]].<ref>[http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20080825180230995 Trolls crush Dragons in Norway's first-ever footy clash]</ref> The second club to form in the Oslo area were founded in early early 2009 in the town of [[Ås]]. This club is nicknamed the ''Ås Battlers'', after the Australian expression [[Aussie battler]], due to the name of the town sounding similar to the first syllable of ''Aussie''. The Oslo Trolls and Ås Battlers played their first match against each other in August 2009. In May 2009, a group started playing social matches in the northern city of [[Tromsø]]. This club is currently the most northerly Australian rules team in the world.<ref>[http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20090609074114959 Footy in Tromsø - the World's Newest most-Northerly Club]</ref> The Oslo Trolls changed their name to Oslo Crows in 2010, with an affiliation agreement with professional club the [[Adelaide Crows]] from the [[Australian Football League]]. ===National Team=== The Norway Polar Bears (Isbjørnene in [[Norwegian language|Norwegian]]) made their first test match appearance against [[Australian rules football in Sweden|Sweden]] in [[Karlstad, Sweden]] on 3 October 2009. The side involved players from all three Australian football clubs in Norway, with around 50% local-born players, the Norwegian side defeating Sweden on the day. With the Oslo club becoming known as the Crows, the Trolls name has since occasionally been used for the Norwegian national team. ==Russia== The first Australian rules football clubs in Russia were created in May 2011, with groups starting practice matches in [[Moscow]] and [[Krasnoyarsk]] within a few weeks of each other. Both fledgling clubs have been started by an expat Australian, but with the remainder of the playing group consisting of local Russians.<ref>[http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20110530182212683]</ref><ref>[http://www.worldfootynews.com/article.php/20110525195432763]</ref> Russia competed at the 2011 AFL 9s Euro Cup in Belfast, finishing in 10th place (out of 18), with wins over Catalunya and Denmark and losses to Croatia and Wales. ==Spain== [[Australian rules football]] in [[Spain]] is currently played in two regions, with an emerging local league in the [[Autonomous Community of Madrid]] and the LFAC in the region of [[Catalonia]]. [[Spain]]'s national [[Australian rules football]] team is nicknamed the Bulls, their guernsey showing a [[Bull]], the national symbol of Spain, in the national colours of red and yellow. The Spanish national team entered a team into the 2005 [[Australian Football International Cup]], successfully raising the money to travel to [[Melbourne]], [[Australia]]. The team failed to win a game and finished last, but was widely commended for its spirited performance. This team was drawn exclusively from players from the Madrid Bears and Spanish nationals resident in Melbourne, the Catalan league not taking part in the squad for various reasons. Two separate sides from Spain appeared at the 2007 [[EU Cup]], one drawn from [[Madrid]] under the banner of 'Spain' and another representing [[Catalonia]]. ===Madrid=== Australian rules was first played in Madrid at a social level in 1997. In 2003, the Madrid Bears club formed and quickly grew in player numbers. In a minor international championship in 2003 hosted by Spain and with [[Germany]] and [[England]] also involved, Spain defeated Germany in the final. In October 2003 the [[Australian Convicts]] played their second match of their European tour against the Bears in Madrid, Spain. The Bears' level of activity dropped off in the season following the 2005 International Cup, although the creation of a second team known as the Kangaroos in the town of [[Móstoles]] near Madrid and the commencement of a championship series between the Bears and Kangaroos has seen a resurgence in playing numbers. ===Catalonia=== [[Australian rules football]] in [[Catalonia]] is currently played by two teams in [[Barcelona]] and [[Valls]] organised as the Lliga de Futbol Australià de Catalunya (Catalan Australian Football League). The sport began in Catalonia in 2000, when a group of people begun to play in [[Valls]]. The LFAC was officially created in 2005, teams that have competed in this league include Belfry Valls, Barcelona Stars, Gabas Tarragona, Lleida Coiots, and Wendells Salou. [[Salou]] marged with [[Tarragona]] for the 2006 season, then in 2007 the teams from [[Lleida]] and [[Tarragona]] elected to withdraw from the league, hoping to rebuild. A French team from [[Northern Catalonia]], the [[St Estève Saints|Saint Esteve Saints]], considered joining the LFAC for their 2007 season, but this club has since folded. The Catalan team played at the 2005 [[EU Cup]] in London and also appeared at the EU Cup in 2007. In 2008 the league kicked off the season with four teams; Belfry Valls, Cornella Bocs (previously the Barcelona Stars), Valls Fire and Picamuixons Birds. A team from [[Andorra]] had planned to compete, but were forced to withdraw due to problems with the stadium they had planned to use. The Andorrans competed in other matches outside the LFAC season. In 2009, the league spread to cover teams from the Catalan regions of [[Andorra]] and France, with the inclusion of the Andorra Crows and the Perpignan Tigers. ==Sweden== {{main|Australian rules football in Sweden}} Australian rules football started in [[Sweden]] with the creation of a club nicknamed the Saints in the southern city of [[Helsingborg]] to play in the Danish AFL. For the next decade, [[Scania]] was the only area in Sweden where the sport was played, clubs in [[Gothenburg]] and [[Stockholm]] being created in the early 21st century. [[Scania]], [[Gothenburg]] and [[Stockholm]] remain the three largest centers for the sport in Sweden, although clubs have also been created in [[Falun]], [[Karlstad]] and most recently [[Uppsala]] in 2007 by Australian and other Students studying at [[Uppsala University]]. The Swedish national team, the Elks, have become increasingly competitive in the last few years and appeared at the [[2008 Australian Football International Cup]]. ==Switzerland== A team from the Swiss border city [[Lugano]] began participating in the AFL Italia league in 2010.<ref name="news.smh.com.au"/> From this team developed a Swiss National Team who competed in the [[2010 EU Cup Australian Rules Football|2010 Euro Cup]] hosted by AFL Italia in Parabiago, Milano, Italy on 2 October 2010. Switzerland were defeated by England and Germany in the first two rounds, then in the third round defeated the Czech Republic. The Semi Finals for their Pool saw them compete against Scotland, who proved far too experienced for the young Swiss team, and later went on to finish 4th in the overall tournament. The Swiss national team finished 11th out of the 15 Nations competing. ==United Kingdom== There are a number of leagues operating throughout the [[United Kingdom]], affiliated with the [[AFL Britain]]. The [[Great Britain national Australian rules football team|Great Britain Bulldogs]] are the representative team for the whole of Great Britain, although the England Dragonslayers, Scottish Puffins and Welsh Red Dragons have also competed on occasions. Northern Ireland is represented through the Irish national team. ===England=== {{main|Australian rules football in England}} The sport in [[England]] has a long but obscure history which dates back to the 1880s. Local competition has grown since 1989 to several amateur leagues. ===Northern Ireland=== The only club from [[Northern Ireland]] to date were the Belfast Redbacks. The Redbacks were part of the Australian Rules Football League of Ireland, although they are currently in recess, and have supplied some players to the Irish national team. ===Scotland=== {{main|Australian rules football in Scotland}} <!-- Deleted image removed: [[Image:Sarfl logo.jpg|right|thumb|Scottish Australian Rules Football League logo]] --> Australian rules football is currently played by three clubs in Scotland, with the [[Glasgow Sharks]], Edinburgh Bloods and [[Aberdeen Dingoes]] forming the Scottish Australian Rules Football League, affiliated with the [[AFL Britain]]. A fourth club is under formation in [[Stirling]]. While the current SARFL has only been in existence since 2002, there are stories of a league existing in Scotland prior to the [[First World War]], referred to by [[Geoffrey Blainey]] in ''A Game of their Own'', although other historians have claimed that this is probably apocryphal. Scots living in Melbourne and Victoria in the mid-19th century were greatly involved in the formation of the rules of the game, as well as the formation of a number of early clubs, including the still-existing [[Essendon Bombers]]. The Scottish national representative team is known as ''The Clansmen''. ===Wales=== {{main|Australian rules football in Wales}} [[Australian rules football]] began in [[Wales]] with the formation of [[Aussie Rules Wales]] (ARW) on 1 September 2006, associated with [[Aussie Rules International]] under the umbrella of the London-based [[Aussie Rules UK]]. The Welsh league later went their own way, rebranding as the Welsh Australian Rules Football League (WARFL). The first Welsh premiership season was conducted in 2007, with an affiliation with the [[South Australian National Football League]]. The four Welsh senior sides in the South Cardiff Panthers, Cardiff Double Blues, Newport Tigers and Swansea Magpies wear the guernseys of [[South Adelaide Panthers|South Adelaide]], [[Sturt Double Blues|Sturt]], [[Glenelg Tigers|Glenelg]] and [[Port Adelaide Magpies|Port Adelaide]] respectively. Aussie Rules Wales was renamed the Welsh Australian Rules Football League for the 2008 season. The national Welsh team is known as the Wales [[Y Ddraig Goch|Red Dragons]], with their first appearance against the England Dragonslayers which was played in Cardiff on 3 November 2007 with England defeating Wales 61-91. Welsh representatives Ed Doe and David James became the first Welsh members of the Great Britain Bulldogs at the [[2008 Australian Football International Cup]]. The WARFL Red Devils are a second representative side of the league, featuring the best players of any nationality. ==European performance at [[Australian Football International Cup|International Cup]]== {| border="1" cellpadding="6" cellspacing="2" style="margin: 1em 1em 1em 0; border: 1px #aaa solid; border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 95%;" !| Flag || Nation || Nickname || [[2002 Australian Football International Cup|2002]] || [[2005 Australian Football International Cup|2005]] || [[2008 Australian Football International Cup|2008]] || [[2011 Australian Football International Cup|2011]] |- | {{flagicon|Denmark}} || [[Denmark]] || ''Vikings'' || 4th || - || 11th || 8th |- | {{flagicon|Finland}} || [[Finland]] || ''Icebreakers'' || - || - || 14th || - |- | {{flagicon|France}} || [[France]] || ''Coqs'' || - || - || - || 14th |- | {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} || [[Great Britain]] || ''Bulldogs'' || 6th || 6th || 9th || 7th |- | {{flagicon|Ireland}} || [[Ireland]] || ''Warriors'' || '''1st''' || 4th || 4th || '''1st''' |- | {{flagicon|Spain}} || [[Spain]] || ''Bulls'' || - || 10th || - || |- | {{flagicon|Sweden}} || [[Sweden]] || ''Elks'' || - || - || 12th || 11th |} ==External links== *[http://www.afleurope.org AFL Europe] *[http://www.stuttgart-emus.de/ Stuttgart Emus] *[http://www.aflswitzerland.com AFL Switzerland] *[http://www.brussels-saints.co.uk Brussels Saints] *[http://www.finlandafl.com Finland Australian Football League] *[http://www.lfac.cat/ Catalan Australian Football League] *[http://digilander.libero.it/australianfootball Italian Federation of Australian Football] *[http://www.worldfootynews.com World Footy News] *[http://www.berlin-crocodiles.de Berlin Crocodiles] *[http://www.aussierules.nl Dutch Australian Football Association (The Netherlands)] *[http://www.vienna-kangaroos.at.tt/ Vienna Kangaroos] *[http://www.canza.cz/index.php?page=Czech%20Lions%20(CAFL) Czech Australian Football League] *[http://zagrebhawks.blogspot.com Zagreb Hawks] *[http://www.warfl.co.uk Welsh Australian Rules Football League] *[http://glasgowmagpies.co.uk/ Glasgow Magpies] *[http://www.sarfl.org.uk/sarfl/ Scottish Australian Rules Football League] *[http://www.aflg.de Australian Football League Germany] *[http://lions.aflg.de Rheinland Lions] *[http://www.southdublinswans.com South Dublin Swans] *[http://www.garfc.se Göteborg Berserkers] ==References== {{Reflist}} {{Aussie Rules Playing Nations links}} {{Australian Football International Cup}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Australian Rules Football In Europe}} [[Category:Australian rules football in Europe| ]] [[Category:Australian rules football outside Australia]]'