Central European Australian Football League Championships
Encyclopedia
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.
in 2003.
The second CEAFL Championships were held in Düsseldorf
in 2004. The 2004 competition was won by Belgium (represented by the Brussels Saints), defeating Spain (represented by the Madrid Bears) in the final. Other competing sides in that year included France (although this side consisted of only one french player and two Australians from the Paris Cockerels
, combined with extra players from other countries), Austria, Germany (represented by club players from Düsseldorf and elsewhere).
The 2005 CEAFL Championships were to be held in Paris, France - but involvement first with the International Australian Football Council
and then with the new organisation Aussie Rules International
saw the event renamed the EU Cup
. This event was moved to London for organisational reasons and was held on October the 9th.
The 2006 EU Cup was to be held in Paris, but when organisers cancelled the event, the CEAFL championships were instead arranged to be hosted in Prague
by the Czech Lions.
The 2007 CEAFL Championships was hosted by the Vienna Kangaroos
in Vienna
. Finland won the championship second year in a row, defeating the host Austria in the final.
Due to financial difficulties, since 2008 the event is currently on indefinite hiatus.
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...
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 MadridMadrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
in 2003.
The second CEAFL Championships were held in Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf
Düsseldorf is the capital city of the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia and centre of the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan region.Düsseldorf is an important international business and financial centre and renowned for its fashion and trade fairs. Located centrally within the European Megalopolis, the...
in 2004. The 2004 competition was won by Belgium (represented by the Brussels Saints), defeating Spain (represented by the Madrid Bears) in the final. Other competing sides in that year included France (although this side consisted of only one french player and two Australians from the Paris Cockerels
Paris Cockerels
The Paris Cockerels are the oldest French Australian football club still in activity. Created by a community of Australians living in Paris, it is composed from 50/50 French and Australian players...
, combined with extra players from other countries), Austria, Germany (represented by club players from Düsseldorf and elsewhere).
The 2005 CEAFL Championships were to be held in Paris, France - but involvement first with the International Australian Football Council
International Australian Football Council
The International Australian Football Council was a body established in 1995 to govern the sport of Australian rules football internationally...
and then with the new organisation Aussie Rules International
Aussie Rules International
Aussie Rules International promotes and develops the sport of Australian rules football internationally. Committed to working with all stakeholders to assist the international growth of the sport, its focus is on:...
saw the event renamed the EU 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...
. This event was moved to London for organisational reasons and was held on October the 9th.
The 2006 EU Cup was to be held in Paris, but when organisers cancelled the event, the CEAFL championships were instead arranged to be hosted in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
by the Czech Lions.
The 2007 CEAFL Championships was hosted by the Vienna Kangaroos
Vienna Kangaroos
The Vienna Kangaroos are an Australian rules football club located in Vienna, Austria, and are Austria's first Australian rules football club.- History :...
in Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
. Finland won the championship second year in a row, defeating the host Austria in the final.
Due to financial difficulties, since 2008 the event is currently on indefinite hiatus.
| Year | Venue | Champions | Runners Up | Third | Fourth | Fifth |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | Zagreb | Croatia | Czech Rep | Austria | ||
| 2007 | Vienna | Finland | Austria | Croatia | Czech Rep | |
| 2006 | Prague | Finland | Croatia | Czech Rep | France | Austria |
| 2005 | - | |||||
| 2004 | Dusseldorf | Belgium | Spain | Germany | Austria | France |
| 2003 | Madrid | Spain | Germany | England | ||