Australian rules football in the Americas

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Australian rules football has been played at an organised amateur level in the United States and Canada since around 1990. There have also been clubs formed for occasional play in Bermuda, Chile and Argentina.

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[edit] Argentina

Australian rules football has been played in Buenos Aires, Argentina since 1997, the Asociacion Argentina de Futbol Australiano as the de facto governing body.

Ricardo Acuña, having seen footage of the game in the 1990s, decided to start the game in Argentina and is now president of the Argentine Alternative Sports Association. The Argentine Australian Football Association (AAFAU) was founded and competition started in 1997 with a group of 3 teams consisting of about 30 or 40 mainly rugby union players.[1] The league grew to four senior sides in Buenos Aires, with Under 19s sides associated with each senior team, and a growing number of juniors and school squads reported to be in creation. Serious competition began in 1999.[2]

A 'Convicts Tour' of amateur footballer from Australia was planned in 2006 in an effort to see Argentina compete in the 2008 Australian Football International Cup, although this tour was later cancelled.

The first international match between Argentina and Chile is planned for April 2008.

[edit] Bermuda

Australian rules football has been played on the island of Bermuda since 2005, when the Bermuda Lions were created.[3]

The island was to host the first Bermuda Australian Football Championships in 2007, featuring teams from Europe and North America in addition to local players.[4] This tournament was later postponed indefinitely.[5]

[edit] Canada

Main article: Australian rules football in Canada

Australian rules football is played at an organised level in the provinces of Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta. The Canadian national team has competed at both Australian Football International Cups to date.

[edit] Cayman Islands

Australian rules is played a few times each year by expatriate Australians and Irishmen in the Cayman Islands. A number of Australians play in the local Gaelic football competition, and generally the Aussie Rules matches are held between the Australians and Irish on Anzac Day and St Patricks Day each year[6].

[edit] Chile

Australian rules football was first played in Chile in 2002, and was part of an experiment for the Alternative Sports Association based in Santiago to introduce new sports into the program in 2004. A small league was planned in Santiago and the possibility of matches against an Argentine representative team was discussed, but these projects did not materialise and the sport went on hiatus.

Renewed interest in late 2007 saw an international series between Argentina and Chile planned for April 2008.

[edit] United States of America

Main article: Australian rules football in the United States

The United States is home to one of the larger communities of Australian rules football clubs and leagues outside Australia, with around 2,000 players and 40 clubs nationwide. The governing body is the United States Australian Football League.

[edit] External links

[edit] References

  1. ^ Fútbol Australiano - Latin America the next growth market? by Aaron Richard for World Footy News. September 13 2004
  2. ^ Footy the Number 1 Alternate Sport when trialled in Argentina by Matthew Morris for World Footy News. August 01 2004
  3. ^ Bermuda Australian Rules Football Association
  4. ^ Bermuda welcomes footy with International Tournament on the Island by Aaron Richard for World Footy News September 30 2005
  5. ^ Bermuda 2007 cancelled by Brett Northey for worldfootynews.com
  6. ^ World Footy News - Footy in the Cayman Islands
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