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See also: While Australian Rules Football is a major spectator sport only in Australia (except for occasional Exhibition Games staged in other countries), in the late 1980s small amateur competitions were attempted in countries such as New Zealand , Ireland , United Kingdom , Denmark , Sweden , France , the USA , Canada , Germany , Japan , Papua New Guinea , Nauru , Samoa , China and South Africa . Most of these competitions no longer exist and the game is played in Australia only, however, the largest overseas competition is the Ontario Australian Football League , with 12 teams scheduled to compete in 2006. Separate from their local competitions, North American fans have formed an organization, AFANA , specifically to work for improved media coverage of Australian football and its U.S. branch, US Footy . International promotion, funding & governance The International Australian Football Council (IAFC) was formed in 1995 to promote and develop Australian football internationally. The original IAFC was later disbanded in 2002, but member Brian Clarke created a rebel organisation also calling itself the IAFC. Debate about this organisation's role and legitimacy, coupled with internal divisions spelled the end of the IAFC, and in 2005 a new organization was set up - called Aussie Rules International - by former IAFC member Brian Clarke in London . This successor to the IAFC promotes itself as an international organisation for developing (not governing) international Australian football. As well playing a role in promoting aussie rules overseas, Aussie Rules International coordinates the Multicultural Cup aimed at instilling national pride in those born overseas and encouraging migrants to take up the game. Australian football is not yet considered large enough internationally for a FIFA styled governing body, so the Australian Football League is primarily responsible for funding and governance and provides $29 million for development of the game in Australia and around A$ 500,000 annually for international development, with the following breakdown in 2005:
Much of the additional international promotion of the game fuelled by exhibition matches, expatriate Australians, local leagues and various AusAID projects. Junior development Several countries now have youth Australian rules programs in place. These countries include Papua New Guinea , New Zealand , Samoa , Tonga , Nauru , Denmark , South Africa , England , Indonesia , USA and Canada . Since 1998, the Barassi International Australian Football Youth Tournament , endorsed by the Australian Football League as part of its International Policy, has hosted several of these nation's representative youth teams. South African AusAID Project An wants South Africa to join an International Rules tri-series and believes that a junior from South Africa will eventually play at the AFL level {Link without Title} . Aussie Rules Schools (England) Another junior project funded project is Aussie Rules Schools UK, which is funded by Sports England and co-ordinated by Aussie Rules UK and Aussie Rules International . This project has seen up to 10 English schools adopt Aussie Rules as part of the school cirriculum to combat obesity. China AusAID project In February 2006, a joint project between the AFL, Melbourne Football Club , Melbourne City Council and AusAID to post an Australian Youth Ambassador in Tianjin , a city of 10 million, about 120km southeast of Beijing in an effort to kickstart Australian Football in China was announced. {Link without Title} International competition The first truly international competitor in Australian rules was New Zealand. In 1908 the Jubilee Australasian Football Carnival was held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Australian rules football. New Zealand (then representing a total of 115 clubs) defeated both New South Wales and Queensland in the carnival but lost to Victoria and Tasmania. The Arafura Games , held in Darwin , Northern Territory , Australia (a competition for northern Australia, South East Asia and Pacific Islands) were the first International games to have Australian football as a competition sport, rather than a Demonstration Sport in 1995. Papua New Guinea won the Gold Medal and retained it in subsequent games. Other teams that have competed at Australian Rules in the games include Japan , Nauru and a Northern Territory indigenous team. The International Australian football Council (IAFC) was formed after the 1995 Games (source IAFC). Inspired by successful Arafura Games competitions, the inaugural Australian Football International Cup was held in Melbourne in 2002 , an initiative of the newly formed IAFC. The 2002 cup was contested by 11 teams from around the world made up exclusively of non-Australians. Ireland won the 2002 cup, defeating Papua New Guinea in the final. The second Australian football International Cup was held in Melbourne in , and so in 2004 , an club side from Auckland played the game, which Japan lost by two points. The third Australian Football International Cup will be held in Melbourne in 2008. In April 2007 the Bermuda Australian Rules Football Championships will begin with teams from the North Atlantic , including the USA, Canada and Europe competing {Link without Title} . Other international competitions that include Australian ex-patriates are also held, including the EU Cup, which was first held in 2005 in London, featuring 10 teams. :See List Of International Australian Rules Football Tournaments World Rankings Based on 'A' International Australian rules football Tests (such as the Australian Football International Cup i.e: rules state that all players must be born in and have played in the country they are representing) based on the total number of wins and ratio percentage. (Source: OzRulzGlobal + World Footy News) Note: Ranking is different to International Cup ranking and Australia's #1 title is assumed, although it has not participated in any international tests (except for the compromise rules series against Ireland). International rules Australia vs Ireland A series of hybrid International Rules matches between the Australian Football League 's best professional players and a representative Gaelic Football team from Ireland's Gaelic Athletic Association mostly amateur players. The series is staged annually. The rules are a compromise between the two codes, using a round ball and a rectangular field. The fierce Tackling of the Australian code is allowed, however more recently this has caused controversy with the Irish players who play a less violent contact game. The series have remained evenly matched with the Irish using speed and athleticism, and the Australians strength and power - both inherent skills in their respective codes. This contrast of skills has created exciting contests that are a hit with spectators. International drafts & converts International Players Although no player to learn the game overseas has played in the AFL, Michito Sakaki from Japan became the first to play at AFL level when selected to play for the Essendon Football Club against the Sydney Swans at an exhibition match at North Sydney Oval in February 2006. Gaelic converts to Australian football :See Also List Of Football Code Converts Australia has recruited several Irish Gaelic footballers to play Aussie Rules. As Gaelic football is primarily amateur competition and the AFL competition is professional, there is a strong financial lure. Converts include: 1990s
2000-2005
Recent drafts
Due to increasing concern from the GAA , in 2006 the AFL made a deal with the GAA to limit the number of junior Gaelic drafts. Australian football converts to American Football (Gridiron) :See Also List Of Football Code Converts Australia has exported players to the NFL . Since the 1980s, many AFL players have tried out as American Football Punters . The kicking position requires similar skills to those found in Australian football players. Salaries are up to 5 times higher and the position lends itself to longevity. Australian football players generally retire at around 30, whereas American football punters can play well into their forties. The first convert was Colin Ridgeway , but the most successful of these players was Darren Bennett - former Melbourne Football Club AFL player recruited by the San Diego Chargers , now playing for the Minnesota Vikings . Shortly after Darren Bennett became successful in the NFL in the early 90s, many other VFL players followed suit, including journeyman Richard Osborne and Footscray fullback Tony Campbell . Kangaroos and Crows champion Wayne Carey {Link without Title} was also rumoured to have tried out with the Cowboys. Many of these were unsuccessful. In 2004, achieved a punting contract with the Green Bay Packers . {Link without Title} While Ben Graham made the grade and achieved a million dollar contract, the career of Nathan Chapman is currently in the wings. More recently, {Link without Title} have both indicated their intention to try out at the conclusion of their AFL careers. In 2006, NFL began more actively scouting Australian Rules players. SEE ALSO
EXTERNAL LINKS ''Fan Sites''
''Governing Bodies'' ''International Tournaments'' ''Promotional Organisations''
''International Leagues''
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