Australian rules football in Nauru
Encyclopedia
Australian rules football
in Nauru
dates back to the 1930s and quickly established itself, along with weightlifting as the national sport
of the country.
The overall participation rate of over 30% is the highest for the sport in the world.
, the country's only active stadium. The surface of the oval is crushed phosphate
dust.
An interim Nauru Australian Football League (NAFL) has established after two workshops has been held under the Ministry of Sports led by Honorable Minister for Sports, Justice, & Health Mr Matthew Batsiua MP.
The Interim new Board Executives for NAFL elects Mr Roy Harris, Former Lions full back Player as the new President, football administration elects youth advocator a female to be part of the NAFL, Ann Hubert as Secretary others former interim president of NAFA Mr David Dowiyogo, and other passionate members Fidelis Amwano, Samuel Grundler and Andy Cain are all elected by community groups.
. Among these schoolkids was Hammer DeRoburt
. Schools in Geelong and Melbourne
in Victoria were popular destinations of Nauruan schoolchildren of secondary-school age.
After DeRoburt left Australia, he headed back to Nauru with a couple of friends and popularised the sport in his hometown.
Nauru's president Marcus Stephen
played for the local Aces team before going on to win multiple medals in Olympic weightlifting which also became a popular sport in Nauru.
In 2006 games in the NAFA final Series was stopped by the Minister for Sports after thugs, hooligans and bullies violated rules of NAFA.
New clubs participating in the competition are BOE Lions, Ace Magpies and Anibare Dockers.
The senior league is made up of 7 teams, with a reserve league of 5 teams. Only two games per week can take place at the Linkbelt Oval
, since as of 2005, the Menen Stadium
had yet to be built and the Denig Stadium is not suitable for Australian rules games
Teams in the senior league (Elite):
Teams in the reserve senior league:
There are also several levels of junior competition in Nauru, including under 15, under 17 and under 18s.
The Chiefs are Nauru's national team and compete in various national competitions.
Nauru first participated in the 1995 Arafura Games in Darwin, Australia. The team, coached by former VFL/AFL player Mark Yeates
finished third, winning the Bronze medal.
In 2000, the Chiefs travelled to Queensland to compete in the inaugural Web Sports Cup to compete against teams from Samoa and the Robina Roos from Australia. The Chiefs won both matches.
In 2001, the Chiefs again travelled to Queensland winning another two matches, one against the Gold Coast Old Boys.
In the same year the Chiefs won the gold medal at the 2001 Arafura Games, defeating the Japanese national side.
At the Australian Football International Cup
in 2002, the Chiefs finished in 8th place, ranking Nauru the 9th strongest Aussie Rules nation in the world.
Nauru withdrew from the 2005 International Cup
.
They successfully raised the money required to attend the 2008 event
, partly through sponsorships. However due to intense rivalry and violence in the National League, the NAFA placed strict conditions on player eligibility to encourage a sense of unity, meaning that only players under 23 years old with a clean record were able to represent Nauru in the cup. A number of members of the national team were placed with clubs in country Victoria to spend a few months developing their skills before the tournament. The team performed exceptionally, being beaten once in the opening pool round by the eventual winners Papua New Guinea to place 5th overall.
in 2003, but were defeated by both New Zealand
and the ACT
junior sides.
The winning team of the top league is granted a free flight to Australia
, courtesy of Our Airline, the second biggest financial supporter of the NAFA.
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 Nauru
Nauru
Nauru , officially the Republic of Nauru and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country in Micronesia in the South Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Kiribati, to the east. Nauru is the world's smallest republic, covering just...
dates back to the 1930s and quickly established itself, along with weightlifting as the national sport
National sport
A national sport or national pastime is a sport or game that is considered to be an intrinsic part of the culture of a nation. Some sports are de facto national sports, as baseball is in the U.S., while others are de jure as lacrosse and ice hockey are in Canada.-De jure national sports:-De facto...
of the country.
The overall participation rate of over 30% is the highest for the sport in the world.
Structure
The football league system consists of one national league, run by the Nauru Australian Football Association (NAFA), based in the Linkbelt OvalLinkbelt Oval
Linkbelt Oval is currently the only sports stadium of the island nation of Nauru, besides Menen Stadium. It is located in Aiwo and was constructed by the Nauru Phosphate Corporation...
, the country's only active stadium. The surface of the oval is crushed phosphate
Phosphate
A phosphate, an inorganic chemical, is a salt of phosphoric acid. In organic chemistry, a phosphate, or organophosphate, is an ester of phosphoric acid. Organic phosphates are important in biochemistry and biogeochemistry or ecology. Inorganic phosphates are mined to obtain phosphorus for use in...
dust.
An interim Nauru Australian Football League (NAFL) has established after two workshops has been held under the Ministry of Sports led by Honorable Minister for Sports, Justice, & Health Mr Matthew Batsiua MP.
The Interim new Board Executives for NAFL elects Mr Roy Harris, Former Lions full back Player as the new President, football administration elects youth advocator a female to be part of the NAFL, Ann Hubert as Secretary others former interim president of NAFA Mr David Dowiyogo, and other passionate members Fidelis Amwano, Samuel Grundler and Andy Cain are all elected by community groups.
History
Australian rules was first played by Nauruan schoolchildren in the 1930s in schools in Victoria, AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. Among these schoolkids was Hammer DeRoburt
Hammer DeRoburt
Hammer DeRoburt, KBE was the founding President of the Republic of Nauru, and ruled the country for most of its first twenty years of independence.-Background and early career:...
. Schools in Geelong 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...
in Victoria were popular destinations of Nauruan schoolchildren of secondary-school age.
After DeRoburt left Australia, he headed back to Nauru with a couple of friends and popularised the sport in his hometown.
Nauru's president Marcus Stephen
Marcus Stephen
Marcus Stephen was President of the Republic of Nauru from December 2007 to November 2011. In addition to the presidency, he held the offices of Minister for Home Affairs, Minister for the Nauru Phosphate Royalties Trust, Minister for Police, Prisons, & Emergency Services, and Minister for Public...
played for the local Aces team before going on to win multiple medals in Olympic weightlifting which also became a popular sport in Nauru.
In 2006 games in the NAFA final Series was stopped by the Minister for Sports after thugs, hooligans and bullies violated rules of NAFA.
New clubs participating in the competition are BOE Lions, Ace Magpies and Anibare Dockers.
Participation
According to 2007 AFL International Census figures there are around 180 players in the Nauru senior competition and 500 players in the junior competition, representing an overall participation rate of over 30% for the country.Senior league
Linkbelt Oval
Linkbelt Oval is currently the only sports stadium of the island nation of Nauru, besides Menen Stadium. It is located in Aiwo and was constructed by the Nauru Phosphate Corporation...
, since as of 2005, the Menen Stadium
Menen Stadium
Meneñ Stadium is the site of the national stadium of the island Nauru. It is located in the Meneng District.The area, a large empty sports field, was converted into a refugee containment area by the Australian Government in 2001...
had yet to be built and the Denig Stadium is not suitable for Australian rules games
Teams in the senior league (Elite):
| Team | Colours | From |
| Menaida Tigers | Black and yellow | Aiwo Aiwo Aiwo is a district in the Pacific country of Nauru.It belongs to Aiwo Constituency.-Location and features:It is located in the west of the island. It covers an area of and a population of 1,300... , Buada Buada Buada is a district in the Pacific nation of Nauru. It is the only district in Buada Constituency.The only landlocked district in the Republic of Nauru, it is in the southwestern part of the island, and covers the central Buada Lagoon. Buada is a fertile piece in Nauru and mostly wet and tropical... |
| Panzer Saints | red-white-black | Meneng Meneng Meneng is a district located in the Meneng Constituency in the country Nauru.The constituency returns 2 members to the Parliament of Nauru in Yaren.-Noted Features:... |
| Blues | blue-white | Anabar, Anetan Anetan Anetan is a district in the Pacific island nation of Nauru. It lies in Anetan Constituency.-Location and features:It is located in the north of the island and covers an area of . The population is about 880 In this district is the weather station of the island... , Anebare, Ewa |
| Ubenited Power | white-black | Ubenide Ubenide Ubenide is one of the constituencies of Nauru and is made up of the four districts: Baiti, Denigomodu, Nibok, and Uaboe. It covers an area of 4.5 km², and has a population of 3,300... |
| Boe Lions | maroon-gold-blue | Boe |
| Aces | Yaren | |
| Supercats | blue-white | Nauru Nauru Nauru , officially the Republic of Nauru and formerly known as Pleasant Island, is an island country in Micronesia in the South Pacific. Its nearest neighbour is Banaba Island in Kiribati, to the east. Nauru is the world's smallest republic, covering just... |
Teams in the reserve senior league:
| Team | Colours | From |
| Eagles | Meneng Meneng Meneng is a district located in the Meneng Constituency in the country Nauru.The constituency returns 2 members to the Parliament of Nauru in Yaren.-Noted Features:... |
|
| Ubenited Power | white-black | Ubenide Ubenide Ubenide is one of the constituencies of Nauru and is made up of the four districts: Baiti, Denigomodu, Nibok, and Uaboe. It covers an area of 4.5 km², and has a population of 3,300... |
| Esso | yellow-black | Aiwo Aiwo Aiwo is a district in the Pacific country of Nauru.It belongs to Aiwo Constituency.-Location and features:It is located in the west of the island. It covers an area of and a population of 1,300... , Buada Buada Buada is a district in the Pacific nation of Nauru. It is the only district in Buada Constituency.The only landlocked district in the Republic of Nauru, it is in the southwestern part of the island, and covers the central Buada Lagoon. Buada is a fertile piece in Nauru and mostly wet and tropical... |
| Yaren Magpies | black-white | Yaren |
| Frigates | Anabar |
Junior League
Audience
The NAFA championship final is an annual event which has in the past attracted up to 3,000 spectators (or 30% of the nation's population).National Team
Nauru first participated in the 1995 Arafura Games in Darwin, Australia. The team, coached by former VFL/AFL player Mark Yeates
Mark Yeates (Australian rules footballer)
Mark Yeates is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Geelong in the Victorian Football League during the 1980s....
finished third, winning the Bronze medal.
In 2000, the Chiefs travelled to Queensland to compete in the inaugural Web Sports Cup to compete against teams from Samoa and the Robina Roos from Australia. The Chiefs won both matches.
In 2001, the Chiefs again travelled to Queensland winning another two matches, one against the Gold Coast Old Boys.
In the same year the Chiefs won the gold medal at the 2001 Arafura Games, defeating the Japanese national side.
At the Australian Football International Cup
Australian Football International Cup
The Australian Football International Cup is an international sport competition in Australian rules football...
in 2002, the Chiefs finished in 8th place, ranking Nauru the 9th strongest Aussie Rules nation in the world.
Nauru withdrew from the 2005 International Cup
2005 Australian Football International Cup
The 2005 Australian Football International Cup was the second time that the Australian Football International Cup tournament, an international Australian rules football competition was held....
.
They successfully raised the money required to attend the 2008 event
2008 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....
, partly through sponsorships. However due to intense rivalry and violence in the National League, the NAFA placed strict conditions on player eligibility to encourage a sense of unity, meaning that only players under 23 years old with a clean record were able to represent Nauru in the cup. A number of members of the national team were placed with clubs in country Victoria to spend a few months developing their skills before the tournament. The team performed exceptionally, being beaten once in the opening pool round by the eventual winners Papua New Guinea to place 5th overall.
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....
: 8th - 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 enter - 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....
: 5th - 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....
: 6th
Juniors
Nauru has sent juniors to the Barassi International Australian Football Youth TournamentBarassi International Australian Football Youth Tournament
The Barassi Youth Tournament is an international Australian rules football tournament for junior players who are no older than 16 years of age. In conjunction with the Australian Football International Cup senior competition, the youth cup is an important event for the development of Aussie Rules...
in 2003, but were defeated by both New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and the ACT
Australian Capital Territory
The Australian Capital Territory, often abbreviated ACT, is the capital territory of the Commonwealth of Australia and is the smallest self-governing internal territory...
junior sides.
Sponsorship
The main sponsors of the NAFA are Capelle & Partner, M & M, OD N Aiwo Hotel, Menen Hotel, .The winning team of the top league is granted a free flight to Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, courtesy of Our Airline, the second biggest financial supporter of the NAFA.