Australian rules football in China
Encyclopedia
Australian rules football in China is an article on the Australian brand of football played in the People's Republic of China
.
since the 1990s. There are a number of senior clubs, including in the bigger cities of Beijing
, Shanghai
and Tianjin
, as well as Auskick
programs in other cities such as Suzhou
, Jiangsu
province.
in 2004, with the foundation of the Beijing Bombers.
The Bombers play an annual China Cup series against the Shanghai Tigers, as well as starting a 3-team metro league known as the Beijing AFL in 2009.
to date.
A second team in the Pokfulam region of Hong Kong was in existence in 2010, playing as the Pokfulam Vikings and conducting some matches against the Dragons.
The Dragons also coordinate an Auskick
juniors program.
in 2009, with the introduction of Auskick
and matches at the International School of Macau. The Macau Lightning senior team debuted in 2010, with matches against the Hong Kong Dragons and Pokfulam Vikings. They made their first Asian Championships appearance in Shanghai in October 2010, but failed to win any matches at the tournament.
under the name of the Shanghai Tigers in 2002. The Tigers have a playing list consisting mainly of expatriate Australians, with some British, American and South African players as well.
does not currently have any senior clubs, although in 2007, 18 schools had introduced the sport into their curriculum.
and Melbourne
saw the beginnings of football development in 2005. By 2007, a development organisation called the AFL China had been formed, with Tianjin Normal University
having two Australian football teams at its main campuses.
The Tianjin program is sponsored by the Melbourne Football Club
and the Melbourne City Council, through links formed by former Melbourne Lord Mayor John So
.
in the 1990s, but this has now disappeared.
.
in Australia have been playing Australian rules football since the 1890s. The 'Chinese Football Premiership' was played in Ballarat between 1892 and 1896 is detailed extensively in the local press.
Chinese migrant Wally Koochew
debuted in the VFL
in 1908, becoming the first Chinese player to do so.
In modern times, there have been a number of Australian Chinese players in suburban and amateur Australian rules, notably with the Southern Dragons, but none have yet played professionally in the Australian Football League
.
People's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
.
History
The sport has been played in the People's Republic of ChinaPeople's Republic of China
China , officially the People's Republic of China , is the most populous country in the world, with over 1.3 billion citizens. Located in East Asia, the country covers approximately 9.6 million square kilometres...
since the 1990s. There are a number of senior clubs, including in the bigger cities of Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
and Tianjin
Tianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
, as well as Auskick
Auskick
Auskick is a national program in Australia to develop and promote participation in Australian rules football by children. It has proven to be popular with both boys and girls....
programs in other cities such as Suzhou
Suzhou
Suzhou , previously transliterated as Su-chou, Suchow, and Soochow, is a major city located in the southeast of Jiangsu Province in Eastern China, located adjacent to Shanghai Municipality. The city is situated on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Taihu Lake and is a part...
, Jiangsu
Jiangsu
' is a province of the People's Republic of China, located along the east coast of the country. The name comes from jiang, short for the city of Jiangning , and su, for the city of Suzhou. The abbreviation for this province is "苏" , the second character of its name...
province.
Beijing
Australian rules was first played in BeijingBeijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
in 2004, with the foundation of the Beijing Bombers.
The Bombers play an annual China Cup series against the Shanghai Tigers, as well as starting a 3-team metro league known as the Beijing AFL in 2009.
Guangzhou
The Guangzhou Scorpions were formed in 2010, playing matches against the Hong Kong Dragons and Macau Lightning.Hong Kong
The Hong Kong Dragons were formed in 1990, and have been one of Asia's most successful Australian rules football clubs since this time. The Dragons play against other Asian teams regularly and have competed at all Asian Australian Football ChampionshipsAsian Australian Football Championships
The Asian Australian Football Championships are an annual tournament of Australian rules football between mainly expat-Australian teams from around Asia.-History:...
to date.
A second team in the Pokfulam region of Hong Kong was in existence in 2010, playing as the Pokfulam Vikings and conducting some matches against the Dragons.
The Dragons also coordinate an Auskick
Auskick
Auskick is a national program in Australia to develop and promote participation in Australian rules football by children. It has proven to be popular with both boys and girls....
juniors program.
Macau
Australian football began in MacauMacau
Macau , also spelled Macao , is, along with Hong Kong, one of the two special administrative regions of the People's Republic of China...
in 2009, with the introduction of Auskick
Auskick
Auskick is a national program in Australia to develop and promote participation in Australian rules football by children. It has proven to be popular with both boys and girls....
and matches at the International School of Macau. The Macau Lightning senior team debuted in 2010, with matches against the Hong Kong Dragons and Pokfulam Vikings. They made their first Asian Championships appearance in Shanghai in October 2010, but failed to win any matches at the tournament.
Shanghai
A club was established in ShanghaiShanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
under the name of the Shanghai Tigers in 2002. The Tigers have a playing list consisting mainly of expatriate Australians, with some British, American and South African players as well.
Suzhou
The city of SuzhouSuzhou
Suzhou , previously transliterated as Su-chou, Suchow, and Soochow, is a major city located in the southeast of Jiangsu Province in Eastern China, located adjacent to Shanghai Municipality. The city is situated on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and on the shores of Taihu Lake and is a part...
does not currently have any senior clubs, although in 2007, 18 schools had introduced the sport into their curriculum.
Tianjin
The sister city relationship between TianjinTianjin
' is a metropolis in northern China and one of the five national central cities of the People's Republic of China. It is governed as a direct-controlled municipality, one of four such designations, and is, thus, under direct administration of the central government...
and Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
saw the beginnings of football development in 2005. By 2007, a development organisation called the AFL China had been formed, with Tianjin Normal University
Tianjin Normal University
Tianjin Normal University is a university in Tianjin, China.-History:Tianjin Normal University was established August 1, 1958. Originally called Tianjin Normal College 天津师范学院, it was renamed in 1982. April 8, 1999 Tianjin Municipal Committee, City Hall and Ministry of Education agreed to establish...
having two Australian football teams at its main campuses.
The Tianjin program is sponsored by the Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
and the Melbourne City Council, through links formed by former Melbourne Lord Mayor John So
John So
John Chun Sai So JP is a Chinese-Australian businessman who served as the 102nd Lord Mayor of Melbourne, the capital of Victoria, Australia. He was the first Lord Mayor in the city's history to be directly elected by the people; previously, Lord Mayors were elected by the Councillors.First elected...
.
Xinjiang
A junior program called the Gobi Desert AFL existed at a primary school in Hami, XinjiangXinjiang
Xinjiang is an autonomous region of the People's Republic of China. It is the largest Chinese administrative division and spans over 1.6 million km2...
in the 1990s, but this has now disappeared.
International Competition
A representative team mainly consisting of expat Australians in China has competed under the names China Blues and China Reds in International fixtures and Asian AFL Championships. The first national representative team composed entirely of Chinese nationals appeared as the China Red Demons at the 2008 Australian Football International Cup2008 Australian Football International Cup
The 2008 Australian Football International Cup was the third time the Australian Football International Cup, an international Australian rules football competition, has been contested....
.
International Cup
- 20022002 Australian Football International CupThe 2002 Australian Football International Cup was the inaugural international Australian rules football tournament held in Melbourne, Australia in 2002....
: Did not compete - 20052005 Australian Football International CupThe 2005 Australian Football International Cup was the second time that the Australian Football International Cup tournament, an international Australian rules football competition was held....
: Did not compete - 20082008 Australian Football International CupThe 2008 Australian Football International Cup was the third time the Australian Football International Cup, an international Australian rules football competition, has been contested....
: 15th - 20112011 Australian Football International CupThe 2011 Australian Football International Cup is the fourth edition of the Australian Football International Cup, an international Australian rules football competition run by the Australian Football League....
: TBC
Chinese community in Australia
Chinese peopleChinese people
The term Chinese people may refer to any of the following:*People with Han Chinese ethnicity ....
in Australia have been playing Australian rules football since the 1890s. The 'Chinese Football Premiership' was played in Ballarat between 1892 and 1896 is detailed extensively in the local press.
Chinese migrant Wally Koochew
Wally Koochew
Walter John Henry “Wally” Koochew was an Australian rules footballer, who was the first Victorian Football League player of Chinese background, playing four games for Carlton Football Club in 1908....
debuted in the VFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
in 1908, becoming the first Chinese player to do so.
In modern times, there have been a number of Australian Chinese players in suburban and amateur Australian rules, notably with the Southern Dragons, but none have yet played professionally in 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...
.