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There is no official governing body for the sport in Europe, although an informal group called Aussie Rules Europe exists among some of the leagues. Cup competitions that have been played between nations in Europe include the Atlantic Alliance Cup , EU Cup and Central European Australian Football League Championships . In addition, there are tests matches played between Great Britain and Ireland, a tri-series between Germany, Denmark and Sweden, and a tri-series between Croatia, Austria and the Czech Republic. AUSTRIA Australian Rules Football in Austria has been played since 2004, with one club to date based in Vienna . The club began life as the Vienna Dingos, changing their nickname to the Vienna Kangaroos in 2006. In that year they competed in a tri-nations series against Croatia and the Czech Republic . BELGIUM Australian rules football was first played in Chatelet in 1919 by Australian soldiers in World War I.http://www.pictureaustralia.org/apps/pictureaustralia?action=PADisplay&mode=display&rs=resultset-776609&no=149 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 . 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 . The team competed in (and won) a tri-nations series in 2006 against the Czech Republic and Austria . In late 2006 plans were laid for a new team in Rijeka called the Sharks. The Zagreb Giants formed an alliance with Australian Football League club the Hawthorn Hawks , changing their name to the Zagreb Hawks. There have been beginnings of a national governing body set up and the national team has been nicknamed the Croatian Knights. 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 name Prague Tigers still being reserved for the name of a Prague team should other teams develop in-country. The Lions are currently the only team in the Czech Republic and have played mainly in tournaments against other European teams, hosting the Central European AFL championships in 2006. DENMARK ''Main article: Australian Rules Football In Denmark '' Australian rules football in Denmark is governed by the Denmark 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 100 young players participating annually. The DAFL is often considered the largest Australian rules football competition outside the English speaking world. The national team, the Denmark Vikings have competed in a single International Cup and performed well. FINLAND The Finland Ice Breakers are the representative Australian Rules Football team in Finland , formerly known as the Finnish Lions. They are the current holder of the Central European AFL Championships , having won the tournament in both 2006 and 2007 . While the team was started by Australian expatriates, it has been captained by a Finn ever since the 2nd match, and Finnish representation now exceeds 50%. The Finnish jumper is primarily blue, with a white rectangle in the centre with the blue cross of the Finnish Flag through it, and the Coat Of Arms immediately below it. The lion is the national symbol of Finland. The Lions' first home game on May 13 , 2006 has been claimed as the northernmost international game of Australian rules ever played, being hosted in Helsinki, the northernmost capital of Europe. FRANCE ''Main article: Australian Rules Football In France '' Australian rules football is played in France mainly in Strasbourg and the Paris area, although there have also been clubs formed in Tarbes and Perpignan . While there is no national league due to the distances between clubs, there is a governing body under development. The Strasbourg Kangaroos took part in the 2006 AFL Germany season (under the name the Black Devils), although they struggled on the field and withdrew for the 2007 season. The France national team has competed at the EU Cup and there plans to eventually build a squad for the Australian Football International Cup , possibly in 2012. GERMANY ''Main article: Australian Rules Football In Germany '' There is a five-team league of Australian rules in Germany , with clubs based in Berlin , Munich , Cologne , Frankfurt 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. IRELAND ''Main article: Australian Rules Football League Of Ireland '' 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, however 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 team, nicknamed the 'Green Machine', first appeared at the . Australian Football League clubs have recruited several Irish players from Gaelic Football to play professionally. As Gaelic football is primarily amateur competition and the AFL competition is professional, there is a strong financial lure. Converts have generally been highly successful and include Jim Stynes , Sean Wight , Tadhg Kennelly and Setanta Ó HAilpín ( Hurler ). 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 pay-tv on Setanta . Other players from Ireland to have played senior games in the Australian Football League include Sean Wight (89), Brian Stynes (2), Dermott McNicholl (3) and Paul Early (1). In 2001, AFL clubs that drafted Irish players onto rookie lists included Kevin Devine (Melbourne), Tadhg Kennelly (Sydney) and Bernie Collins (Western Bulldogs). In 2002, other rookie listed players included Nicholas Walsh (Melbourne), Declan O'Mahoney (Sydney). In 2006 Colm Begley (Brisbane), Brendan Quigley (Brisbane) and Martin Clarke (Collingwood) were rookie listed. The Irish Experiment ''See Also: Players Who Have Converted From One Football Code To Another '' ITALY Australian Rules Football in Italy was first played in 2004 with an attempt to start a league based around the city of Naples . Four teams in Salerno , Naples , San Giorgio and Barra were created, but the league has since disappeared. 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. In 2005 a new team representing the Netherlands appeared at the EU Cup , where they finished third. 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). In 2007, the Dutchmen played their first game in almost two years with a social match against the Rheinland Lions from Germany. NORWAY There have been plans to start a team in Oslo , to be nicknamed the Trolls, since around 2005, although this club has not yet come to fruition. SPAIN Australian Rules Football in Spain is currently played in two regions, the Madrid Bears in the nation's capital 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 will appear 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 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. 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 (LFAC)). 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 and return to league play in 2008. A French team from Northern Catalonia , the Saint Esteve Saints , considered joining the LFAC for their 2007 season, but this club has since folded. The Catalan national team played at the 2005 EU Cup in London and is also intending to appear at the EU Cup in 2007. SWEDEN ''Main article: 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 may make an appearance at the Australian Football International Cup in 2008. UNITED KINGDOM There are a number of leagues operating throughout the United Kingdom , affiliated with two main groups, Aussie Rules UK and the British Australian Rules Football League . England ''Main article: Australian Rules Football In England '' 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 See Also: Australian rules football in Scotland Australian rules football is currently played by four teams in Scotland, two each from Glasgow and Edinburgh forming the Scottish Australian Rules Football League (affiliated with the BARFL). No one knows how long Aussie Rules has been played in Scotland, but it appears it may have been played in that country for almost a century, or at least before WWI. 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 Puffins hope in future to compete at the Australian Football International Cup . Wales Australian Rules Football began in Wales with the formation of Aussie Rules Wales (ARW) on September 1 2006 . ARW is based in Cardiff and is associated with Aussie Rules International under the umbrella of Aussie Rules UK which is based in London. ARW conducts junior clinics and school competitions, providing footballs, uniforms and other resources to Welsh football clubs and schools, conducts development visits to schools and football clubs and aims to raise awareness of Australian football and the AFL competition and its affiliates ARW is initially focusing on the involvement of children between the ages of 5-15 throughout schools in South Wales in Aussie Rules in Auskick -style programmes. This area of Wales was chosen by ARW due to availability of resources, the concentration of the population and the close proximity to other UK Aussie Rules clubs. Regions such as Cardiff, Swansea and Newport will be the main focal point starting from the 2007 school year. Four senior teams in Cardiff , South Cardiff, Newport and Swansea were organised to compete in the Aussie Rules UK national competition for the 2007 season. These clubs have formed sister-club associations with teams from the South Australian National Football League , bearing the colours and nicknames of the SANFL sister-club. Former British Australian Rules Football League club the Swindon Devils, from England's West Country , are also competing in the Welsh league for 2007. A national Welsh team known as the Cymru Red Dragons is planned by Aussie Rules Wales, with their first appearance to be in 2007. EXTERNAL LINKS
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