Countries playing Australian rules football

Map of the world indicating the nations where Australian rules football was most played in 2009. The stronger regions are indicated in shades of red, areas in which it were most played, areas where the game was unknown or least played are indicated in grey.

Note: In order to be recognised as a true national team and not simply expatriates (for the purposes of this entry), the list is subject to International Cup eligibility rules.[1]

Australian Football League has official affiliation agreements with 13 international governing bodies, ARFL Ireland, AFL Canada, Danish Australian Football League, AFL Britain, AFL Japan, Nauru Australian Football Association, New Zealand AFL, USAFL, AFL South Africa, AFL PNG, AFL Samoa, Tonga Australian Football Association, AFL Germany and AFL Middle East, although it has working relations with leagues and clubs in further countries.

Africa

Countries with established league(s) and non-Australian-based national team:

Country Overview National team Major teams/clubs Governing Body Main league competition(s) Main cup competition(s) Best IC performance
South Africa South Africa Overview[2] Lions (formerly Buffaloes) AFL South Africa North West Province
Gauteng Province
3rd, 2008

Other nations with some history of Australian Rules:

Country Overview National team Major teams/clubs Governing Body Main league competition(s) Main cup competition(s) Best IC performance
Kenya Kenya Overview[3] None None None None None
Senegal Senegal Overview None None None None None
Zimbabwe Zimbabwe Overview None None None None None

Americas

Countries with established league(s) and non-Australian-based national team:

Country Overview National team Major teams/clubs Governing Body Main league competition(s) Main cup competition(s) Best IC performance
Canada Canada Overview Northwind AFL Canada OAFL
BCAFL
AFL Quebec
CWAFL
USAFL National Championships 6th, 2008
United States United States Overview Revolution USAFL MAAFL
EAFL
NWPAFL
SEAFL
WAFA
USAFL National Championships 3rd, 2005

Other countries with some history of Australian Rules:

Country Overview National team Major teams/clubs Governing Body Main league competition(s) Main cup competition(s) Best IC performance
Argentina Argentina Overview Los Santos de Santiago AAFAU AAFAU
Brazil Brazil Overview[4] Carnaval
Bermuda Bermuda Overview[5] Bermuda Lions
Chile Chile Overview[6] Santiago Saints

Asia

Main articles: Australian rules football in Asia and Australian rules football in the Middle East

Countries with an established league(s) and non-Australian-based national team:

Country Overview National team Major teams/clubs Governing Body Main league competition(s) Main cup competition(s) Best IC performance
Japan Japan Overview Samurais AFL Japan JAFL
Asian Championships
Narita Cup
8th, 2008

Countries with at least one active club and/or national team including Australian players:

Country Overview National team Major teams/clubs Governing Body Main league competition(s) Main cup competition(s) Best IC performance
Brunei Brunei Overview Sharks BARFL Asian Championships
China China Overview Beijing Bombers
Shanghai Tigers
Tianjin Normal University
Asian Championships 15th, 2008
Hong Kong Hong Kong Overview Dragons Asian Championships
India India Overview[7][8][9] 16th, 2008
Indonesia Indonesia Overview[10] Jakarta Bintangs

Jakarta Bulldogs
Bali Geckos
Banda Aceh Bandits
Borneo Bears

WeJAFL Asian Championships
Pancawati Cup
Java-Bali Cup
Bali 9s
Israel Israel Overview[11] Peres Peace Team 13th, 2008 (as Peace Team)
Laos Laos Overview Lao Elephants
Malaysia Malaysia Overview Warriors Asian Championships
Philippines The Philippines Overview[12][13] Philippine Eagles PAFL Asian Championships
Pakistan Pakistan Overview[14][15] Dragoons AFL Pakistan Swat
Qatar Qatar Overview Doha Dubai 9s
Singapore Singapore Overview Singapore Wombats Asian Championships
Thailand Thailand Overview Thailand Tigers Asian Championships
United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates Overview[16][17][18] Dubai Dingoes
Dubai Dragons
Dubai Heat
Asian Championships
Dubai 9s
Vietnam Vietnam Overview Hanoi Swans
Saigon Saints
Asian Championships

Countries with some history of Australian Rules and/or a club in development:

Country Overview National team Major teams/clubs Governing Body Main league competition(s) Main cup competition(s) Best IC performance
East Timor East Timor Overview Crocodiles
Lebanon Lebanon Overview[19] Falcons

Europe

Countries with an established league and non-Australian-based national team:

Country Overview National team Major teams/clubs Governing Body Main league competition(s) Main cup competition(s) Best IC performance
Austria Austria Overview Avalanche Styrian DownUnderDogs CEAFL Cup, EU Cup
Catalonia Catalonia Overview LFAC LFAC EU Cup
Czech Republic Czech Republic Overview Lions Prague Cats
Prague Dragons
Prague Kings
Vinohrady Hawks
CAAFL CAAFL League EU Cup
Denmark Denmark Overview Vikings Farum Cats DAFL DAFL Premier League Doctor's Cup 4th, 2002
Croatia Croatia Overview Knights Zagreb Hawks, Agram Power, Velika Gorica Bombers CAARF CRO League EU Cup
England England Overview Dragonslayers
(Form part of the Great Britain Bulldogs for the IC)
AFL Britain AFL London
Southern Division
Central & North West Division
North East Division
Brit Cup
EU Cup
France France Overview[20] Les Bleus Aix-Marseille Dockers
Bordeaux Bombers
Montpellier Fire Sharks
Paris Cockerels
Perpignan Tigers
Strasbourg Kangaroos
Toulouse Crocodiles
UFFA UFFA
ARFLF
EU Cup 14th, 2011
Finland Finland Overview[21] Ice Breakers Helsinki Heatseekers
Salo Juggernauts
Espoo Roos
Turku Dockers
Waasa Wombats
FAFL EU Cup 14th, 2008
Germany Germany Overview Black Eagles Munich Kangaroos
Frankfurt Redbacks
Rheinland Lions
Hamburg Dockers
Berlin Crocodiles
Stuttgart Emus
AFLG AFLG EU Cup, Tri-Nations
Iceland Iceland Overview Ravens Bulls
Eagles
Dragons
IceAFL EU Cup
Republic of Ireland Ireland Overview Warriors ARFLI ARFLI 1st, 2002 and 2011
Italy Italy Overview Azzurri Roma Blues
Milano Aussie Rulers
Genova Dockers
AFL Italia
Netherlands Netherlands Overview[22] The Flying Dutchmen Utrecht Saints

Eindhoven Eagles
Amsterdam Devils
Den Haag Ooievaars

DAFA DAFA Premiership EU Cup
Norway Norway Overview Trolls Oslo Crows
Ås Battlers
Tromsø
Scotland Scotland Overview Clansmen
(Form part of the Great Britain Bulldogs for the IC)
Edinburgh Bloods
Glasgow Sharks
Aberdeen Eagles
Kingdom Kangaroos
AFL Britain SARFL Haggis Cup EU Cup
Spain Spain Overview Bulls Madrid Bears
Móstoles Kangaroos
10th, 2005
Sweden Sweden Overview Elks AFL Sweden SAFL
SAFF
Tri-Nations 8th, 2008
Switzerland Switzerland Steinbocks Lugano Steinbocks
United Kingdom United Kingdom Overview Bulldogs AFL Britain
WARFL
SARFL
6th, 2002 & 2005
Wales Wales Overview Cymru Red Dragons
(Form part of the Great Britain Bulldogs for the IC)
Cardiff Double Blues
Gwent Tigers
South Cardiff Panthers
Swansea Magpies
Vale Warriors
AFL Britain WARFL Dragon Cup

Countries with at least one active club and/or national team including Australian players:

Country Overview National team Major teams/clubs Governing Body Main league competition(s) Main cup competition(s) Best IC performance
Belgium Belgium Overview Brussels Saints EU Cup
Russia Russia Overview Czars The Pirates
The Shooters
Slavyane
ФАФР EU Cup

Other countries with some history of Australian Rules:

Country Overview National team Major teams/clubs Governing Body Main league competition(s) Main cup competition(s) Best IC performance
Georgia (country) Georgia Overview Ozirulz Georgia

Oceania

Countries with active league(s) and national teams.

Country Overview National team Major teams/clubs Governing Body Main league competition(s) Main cup competition(s) Best IC performance
Australia Australia Overview All-Australian Team Clubs AFL AFL
SANFL
WAFL
VFL
Queensland State
NTFL
Sydney AFL
TSL
O&M MFL
VWFL
SAWFL
SWAFL
WAWFL
ACTWAFL
NTWARFA
AFL Grand Final
NAB Cup
TAC Cup
Ineligible
Fiji Fiji Overview Tribe Nausori Cats
Raiwaqa Bulldogs
Suva City Swans
Suva Lions
AFL Fiji 10th, 2014
Nauru Nauru Overview Chiefs NAFA 5th, 2008
New Zealand New Zealand Overview Falcons New Zealand AFL Auckland AFL
Canterbury AFL
Waikato AFL
Wellington AFL
NPC 1st, 2005
Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea Overview Mosquitos PNG Rules Football Council Goroka
Kimbe
Lae
Mt Hagen
Port Moresby
Rabaul
Eastern Highland
NPC 1st, 2008
Samoa Samoa Overview Kangaroos Samoa Australian Rules Football Association 5th, 2005
Tonga Tonga Overview Black Marlins

Other countries with some history of Australian Rules:

Country Overview National team Major teams/clubs Governing Body Main league competition(s) Main cup competition(s) Best IC performance
Solomon Islands Solomon Islands Overview

References

  1. AFL and Countries ponder eligibility rules for 2008, by Brett Northey - worldfootynews.com, Apr 23 2007
  2. South Africa target 28000 players by 2010, youth Test match confirmed, by Brett Northey - worldfootynews.com, Jan 15 2007
  3. Footy a welcome hit in Kenya, by Matt Morris - worldfootynews.com, Nov 20 2004
  4. Santiago Saints headed to Rio for Brazil's first-ever footy match, by Aaron Richard - worldfootynews.com, June 09 2009
  5. Bermuda 2007 cancelled, by Brett Northey - worldfootynews.com, Jan 16 2007
  6. Footy enters Chilean alternative sports scene, by Aaron Richard - worldfootynews.com, Oct 15 2004
  7. Dixon's world tour to advance the cause, by Brett Northey - worldfootynews.com, Sep 13 2006
  8. Kickstart to sport from Down Under by Romila Saha for the Calcutta Times November 16, 2006
  9. Indian footy - the 2008 International Cup, Croatian connection and Vegemite Vindaloo, by Ash Nugent - worldfootynews.com, Jan 18 2007
  10. Indonesian League does the hard yards alone, by Sean - worldfootynews.com, Nov 28 2006
  11. Footy in Israel - From St Kilda to the Dead Sea, by Aaron Richard - worldfootynews.com, Jan 19 2005
  12. Aussie Rules gets its start in the Philippines, by Derek Ackary - worldfootynews.com, Jan 15 2005
  13. Asian Eagles want to take to the skies again, by Craig Francis - hk-dragons.com, Nov 24 2006
  14. College tournament planned for North-West Pakistan, by Aaron Richard - worldfootynews.com, May 18 2006
  15. Pakistan keen to spread the word, by Ash Nugent - worldfootynews.com, June 22 2006
  16. Dubai tries to get footy moving in the Middle East, by Ash Nugent - worldfootynews.com, Nov 23 2006
  17. Aussie Rules is gaining momentum in Dubai, by Steve Hill - gulfnews.com, 25 Nov 2006
  18. Dubai 9s preview, by Ash Nugent - worldfootynews.com, 07 Mar 2007
  19. Lebanese Falcons take Flight, by Aaron Richard - worldfootynews.com, Oct 01 2004
  20. French footy gets on board with Leo Lagrange, by Aaron Richard - worldfootynews.com, Nov 22 2006
  21. Finland domestic comp ready to break the ice in 2007, by Aaron Richard - worldfootynews.com, Nov 16 2006
  22. Netherlands
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