AFL Europe
Encyclopedia
AFL Europe is the regional governing body for Australian Rules Football
in Europe
. It organises the European Championships in Australian Football
and the Euro Cup
, as well as the European Legion representative team.
. These first leagues led to the first international game between two European teams was played in 1994 between Great Britain
and Denmark.
As more leagues were formed, more international games began to be organised. Historical international competitions played by European teams include the Atlantic Alliance Cup
, Central European Australian Football League Championships
and the European Australian Football Tri-nations Tournament.
The growth of Australian football in Europe led to the need for a central body that was accountable to the member organisations. At the 2005 EU Cup
a conference was held which formed the body Aussie Rules Europe
as a promotional body. ARE was superseded after a conference at the 2009 EU Cup
the decision was made to form such a body at another conference the following January. The January conference was held in Frankfurt
, Germany
and the European Australian Football Association was founded. At an October, 2010 conference in Parabiago
, Italy
the members of the EAFA voted to change the organisations's name to AFL Europe, to fall in line with the Australian Football League
.
competition. The Euro Cup was originally known as the EU Cup, the name was changed after teams representing non European Union
countries started participating. The Euro Cup is partially intended as a developmental tool to allow participation for countries without enough players to form a full team.
, England
. The Europe team had only been together for three days, which showed in the 27.21 (183)-2.0 (12) scoreboard. The Legion's colours are the blue and gold of the Flag of Europe and white.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. It organises the European Championships in Australian Football
European Championships in Australian Football
The European Championships in Australian Football is an Australian football competition played between 16-a-side European national teams. It is organised by AFL Europe. The inaugural competition was played in Sweden and Denmark in August 2010.-Results:...
and the Euro Cup
EU Cup
thumb|Logo of the 2007 EU CupThe EU Cup is an international Australian rules football tournament played between European national teams. Played under 9-a-side Footy rules, the tournament was first held at Chiswick Rugby Club in London, England in 2005 as an extension of the Central European...
, as well as the European Legion representative team.
History
Australian football has been played regularly in Europe since the late 1980s when leagues formed in England and DenmarkDanish Australian Football League
The Danish Australian Football League is the controlling body and main league for the sport of Australian rules football in Denmark. Founded in 1989, regular competition commenced in 1991...
. These first leagues led to the first international game between two European teams was played in 1994 between Great Britain
Great Britain national Australian rules football team
The Great Britain National Australian Rules Football team is known as the British Bulldogs. The team is made up of the best British born players selected from the clubs of AFL Britain affiliated competitions in England, Wales and Scotland...
and Denmark.
As more leagues were formed, more international games began to be organised. Historical international competitions played by European teams include the Atlantic Alliance Cup
Atlantic Alliance Cup
The Atlantic Alliance Cup is an international Australian rules football tournament run every 3 years. The inaugural tournament was in pitting clubs and national teams from the North Atlantic together....
, Central European Australian Football League Championships
Central European Australian Football League Championships
The CEAFL championships are an Australian rules football tournament held between European nations where the sport of Australian Rules football is in the early stages of development.-History:The first CEAFL Championships were held in Madrid in 2003....
and the European Australian Football Tri-nations Tournament.
The growth of Australian football in Europe led to the need for a central body that was accountable to the member organisations. At the 2005 EU Cup
2005 EU Cup Australian rules football
The 2005 EU Cup of Australian rules football was held in London on October 9, 2005, with 10 national teams. The tournament was won by Belgium who were crowned European Champions after defeating Sweden in the final.-Teams:-Pools:--------...
a conference was held which formed the body Aussie Rules Europe
Aussie Rules Europe
Aussie Rules Europe was a body created on 8 October, 2005 in London to help promote and develop the sport of Australian rules football in Europe...
as a promotional body. ARE was superseded after a conference at the 2009 EU Cup
2009 EU Cup Australian rules football
The 2009 EU Cup of Australian rules football was held in Samobor from 3 till 9 October 2009, with 15 national teams.-Teams:-Group A:-Group B:-Group C:-Group D:-Semi Finals:-Ranking Matches:-Grand Final:...
the decision was made to form such a body at another conference the following January. The January conference was held in Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
and the European Australian Football Association was founded. At an October, 2010 conference in Parabiago
Parabiago
Parabiago is a town located in the north-western part of the Province of Milan, Italy.The town is crossed by the road to Sempione and MilanGallarate Railway; nearby flow the Olona river and the Canale Villoresi....
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
the members of the EAFA voted to change the organisations's name to AFL Europe, to fall in line with the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
.
Members
- Andorra
- Austria
- CataloniaAustralian rules football in CataloniaAustralian rules football in Catalonia is run by the Catalan League of Australian Football , member of Aussie Rules Europe. In 2002 Aussie rules was first played in Valls, where was founded the first club, Belfry Valls....
- Croatia
- Czech Republic
- DenmarkDanish Australian Football LeagueThe Danish Australian Football League is the controlling body and main league for the sport of Australian rules football in Denmark. Founded in 1989, regular competition commenced in 1991...
- EnglandAFL BritainThe AFL Britain is the governing body for Australian rules football in England, formed in 2008. The organisation is the successor to the British Australian Rules Football League, whose clubs became the AFL London upon creation of the new national body....
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Iceland
- IrelandAustralian Rules Football League of IrelandThe Australian rules football League of Ireland is an Australian rules football competition and governing body in Ireland.The league is an International Affiliate of the Australian Football League and a founding member of the European governing body, .The league is not affiliated with the Gaelic...
- Italy
- The Netherlands
- ScotlandAFL BritainThe AFL Britain is the governing body for Australian rules football in England, formed in 2008. The organisation is the successor to the British Australian Rules Football League, whose clubs became the AFL London upon creation of the new national body....
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- WalesAFL BritainThe AFL Britain is the governing body for Australian rules football in England, formed in 2008. The organisation is the successor to the British Australian Rules Football League, whose clubs became the AFL London upon creation of the new national body....
Euro Cup
An annual9-a-side Footy9-a-side Footy
Nine-a-side footy is a sport based on Australian rules football played informally by Aussie Rules clubs but not yet an official sport in its own right....
competition. The Euro Cup was originally known as the EU Cup, the name was changed after teams representing non European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
countries started participating. The Euro Cup is partially intended as a developmental tool to allow participation for countries without enough players to form a full team.
European Championships
Played every three years under full Australian football rules, between teams of 16 players. The first tournament was played in 2010, with 8 countries participating.European Legion
The Legion represents the whole of Europe in Australian football. The Legion's first game was an Under 21 game against the AFL-AIS Academy Australian Under 17 team in LondonLondon
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The Europe team had only been together for three days, which showed in the 27.21 (183)-2.0 (12) scoreboard. The Legion's colours are the blue and gold of the Flag of Europe and white.