International rules football
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International rules football (sometimes known as "inter rules" or, particularly in Ireland, "compromise rules") is a hybrid code of football which was developed to facilitate international representative matches between Australian rules footballers and Gaelic footballers.
The first games played were Test matches between Australia and a touring Meath Gaelic Football team which took place in late 1967, after Meath had won that year's All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. Following intermittent international tests between Australia and an all-Ireland team, the International Rules Series has been played annually since 1998 and has generally been a closely matched contest with the early series generally going to the visiting team, and later titles almost always going to the host team.
International Rules Football is one of few team sports or football codes in the world without any dedicated clubs or leagues. It is currently played by both men's and women's teams only in tournaments or once-off Test matches.
The International Rules series has been cancelled for 2007 with no plans to reinstate it after a decision taken by the Central Council of the Gaelic Athletics Association on December 9, 2006. This is due to ongoing criticism about the conduct of the games.[1]
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[edit] Compromise rules
- See also: Gaelic football
- See also: Laws of Australian football
- See also: Comparison of Australian rules football and Gaelic football
The rules are designed to provide a compromise between those of the two codes, with Gaelic footballers being advantaged by the use of a round ball and a rectangular field (Australian rules uses an oval ball and field), while the Australian rules football players benefit from the opportunity to tackle between the shoulders and thighs, something banned in Gaelic football. The game also introduces the concept of the mark, from Australian rules football, with a free kick paid for any ball caught from a kick of over 15 metres.
The game uses two large posts and two small posts, as in Australian rules, and a crossbar and goal net as in Gaelic football. This is similar to the format used for both Gaelic football and Hurling until about 100 years ago[citation needed]. Points are scored as follows:
- in the goal net (a goal): 6 points,
- over the crossbar and between the two large posts (an over): 3 points,
- between a large post and a small post (a behind):1 point.
Scores are written so as to clarify how many of each type of score were made as well as, like Australian football, giving the total points score for each team; for example, if a team scores one goal, four overs and 10 points, the score is written as 1-4-10 (28) - meaning one goal (six points) plus 4 overs (4 * 3 = 12 points) plus 10 points, for a total score of 28 points.
An international rules match lasts for 72 minutes (divided into four quarters of 18 minutes each). Gaelic football matches also go for 70 minutes, divided into two halves, and Australian rules matches typically go for 4 quarters of 30 minutes each (while the official duration varies between 15 and 25 minutes depending on the league, for AFL it is 20 minutes which means around 27 to 31 minutes after stoppage time).
As in Gaelic football, teams consist of fifteen players, including a goalkeeper, whereas eighteen are used in Australian rules (no keeper).
Most of the rules are from Gaelic Football, including if the ball goes out of bounds, possession is given to the team opposite to the player who last touched the ball.
[edit] GAA/AFL Rule changes
The following rule changes have being implemented as from the 2006 International Rules Series:
- Each quarter will be reduced from 20 minutes to 18 minutes.
- A player who receives a red card will be sent off and no replacement will be allowed. In addition to this a penalty is awarded regardless of where the incident takes place. Previously a replacement was allowed and a penalty was only awarded if the incident happened in the penalty area.
- A yellow card will now mean a 15 minute sin bin for the offending player who will be sent off if he receives a second card.
- Players can't pick the ball up directly off the ground
- Players must carry the ball as in Gaelic Football (ie. they can opt to first bounce, then solo), previously they could just bounce it
[edit] Australia vs Ireland
The first games were the idea of Australian Harry Beitzel who organised a tour in October 1967 to play Meath Gaelic Football Club after Meath had won that year's All-Ireland Senior Football Championship. The Australian team, known as "The Galahs" defeated Meath 3.16 to 1.10 at Croke Park then defeated Mayo 2.12 to 2.5. Informal games were played intermittently from then.
[edit] International Rules Series
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The senior International Rules Series is played each October, after the completion of the Australian Football League Grand Final and All-Ireland Football Final which are both played on the last weekend of September.
The Irish team is selected by the Gaelic Athletic Association and the Australian team is selected by the Australian Football League.
The series alternates host countries each year between Ireland and Australia. Since the resumption of the senior international series in 1998, the average attendance up to the conclusion of the 2006 series has been 48,199. Ireland has won seven matches, Australia has won five with a further two being drawn. The 2006 series sold out both matches in Ireland and set a record for international sports in Ireland with a crowd of 82,127 at Croke Park.
Following controversies in the 2006 series, the Irish team coach and GAA president again cast doubts on the future of the series. The AFL's chief, however expressed optimism. The two organisations agreed to meet to once again discuss the series. Regardless of the on-field and off-field controversies, there is no doubt that the series has significant financial and representational benefits to both organisations.
[edit] All-time standings (1984-2006)
| Country | Series won | Test matches won 1 |
|---|---|---|
 Australia |
7 | 14 |
 Ireland |
6 | 14 |
1 Two draws (second test 1999, second test 2002).
[edit] Under 17s and Under 19s
In 2005, in addition to the annual senior international series, Australia and Ireland began to play an under-19 and under-17 contest. Australia won the 2006 series[2]. The junior series was largely instituted by both leagues as a means to identify emerging talent.Aidan Lavelle from Nass County Kildare won the Cian Doyle Medal for best and fairest player in the series.
An exhibition match between an Indigenous Australian touring side composed of players from the Clontarf Foundation and led by Sydney's Adam Goodes against South African youth teams was held at Potchefstroom in 2006.
[edit] Ladies/Women's international rules
Ladies Gaelic football has been growing almost exponentially in Ireland since the 1970s with over 100,000 women and girls playing in 2006 and figures expected to reach 150,000 by 2010. Women's Footy has far fewer players, but numbers have grown strongly since the 1990s. In early 2006 representatives of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association of Ireland and Women's Australian Football Leagues met at a Ladies Gaelic football festival in Singapore and agreed to compete in the hybrid version of the two football codes to coincide with the senior men's series.
The First Test of the first ever women's series took place in Breffni Park, Cavan on October 31, 2006. With Ireland cruising to victory comfortably over their Australian counterparts. The final score of 6.26.16 (130) to 1.2.3 (15) providing a 115 point win to the home side. The Australian team declined an offer to use an oval ball in the Second Test to liven up the series[3]. The First and Second Tests were broadcast live on Irish channel TG4 as part of its 10th birthday celebrations, it was also broadcast in Australia on Setanta Sports. The Second Test was held on November 4 at Parnell Park, Dublin. The Second Test was won by Ireland 3.5.6 (39) to 0.4.6 (18).
[edit] International rules football around the world
International Rules is played in various locations throughout North America and the Caribbean, Europe and Asia, Australia and New Zealand between fledgling Australian rules football and Gaelic Football clubs.
[edit] References
- ^ The Sydney Morning Herald, "Irish scrap International Rules tour", 10 December 2006 [1]
- ^ [2]
- ^ http://www.unison.ie/sportsdesk/gaafootball/stories.php3?ca=13&si=1717159
[edit] See also
- Gaelic football
- Australian rules football
- Jim Stynes Medal
- Australian International Rules Team
- Ireland international rules football team
[edit] External links
- Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) International Rules Pages.
- Australian Football League (AFL) International Rules Pages.
- WFN International Rules. - catalogues some of the scores of games in this new code around the world.
- Laws of the Game
- Aussie Rules International International Rules page.
- Setanta sports GAA webcasts. Viewing information for Australia v Ireland International Rules Tests when series is on in October/November.
- International Rules News Fixtures and Results from Sports.ie
- Ireland stage late comeback to win 1st Test in the 2006 IR Series
- Video of Rough play during the 2005 series from YouTube
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