Union Française de Football Australien
Encyclopedia
Australian rules football
in France
is currently played by seven clubs in Paris
, Strasbourg
, Bordeaux
, Perpignan
, Toulouse
, Marseille
and Montpellier
. The Commission Nationale de Football Australien (CNFA) is the current ad-hoc governing body. There have been a number of other short-lived clubs in the country in the past, although the long distances between them have prevented the creation of a national league.
in 1916. A match was also recorded as being played in Le Havre.
Australian football was first shown in France on Canal+
television in the 1980s. Aussie Rules had been played sporadically in the 1990s by clubs in Paris
and Normandy
, with the formation of the first club, Houquetot in Normandy
. With the support of the Australian embassy, the club became the Montivilliers in 1998 and was nickamed "Tasmania" in reference to the Australian state. The first game was played against Australians in 1998, but the club disappeared the following year.
it wasn't until 2003-04 when the first stable teams began to appear, the first two being the primarily Australian-expat based Paris Cockerels and the mainly French Strasbourg Kangaroos. The first footy match on record between two 100% French teams was played in Strasbourg
on 3 December 2005, with the hometown Kangaroos defeating the Senlis Razorbacks 91-17.
A promotional match was played in March 2006 between English club Reading Kangaroos
and a French national side in front of between 500 and 700 spectators in Perpignan
, including a sizeable media presence.
Owing to the large distances between clubs, there was no national league as such prior to the inaugrial 2009 season. Strasbourg competed in the Australian Football League Germany for 2006, with the Saint Esteve Saints considering joing the Catalan AFL for their 2007 season before going into recess. The first French club championship was held in Paris in 2008, with Paris, Strasbourg, Montpellier and Bordeaux
taking part.
in London
. In September 2007 the French national Aussie Rules team competed in the 2007 EU Cup
in Hamburg
, finishing 7th overall with a record of 3 wins from 6 matches. The French team is unlikely to be ready for the 2008 Australian Football International Cup
, although they will be participating in the 2008 EU Cup in Prague.
On the 11.6.2011 the French team lost a friendly match against Germany in Paris 83:19.
The "Bleus" will participate at the International Cup 2011, for their first time.
Paris Cockerels
The Cockerels were formed in Paris
in 2003 by Australian expatriates, although they are now mainly local French players. They have played matches against the Brussels Saints and Flying Dutchmen, as well as games against other French teams, particularly the Strasbourg Kangaroos.
The Cockerels won the inaugural French Cup in 2008 and also in 2009.
Strasbourg Kangaroos
France's first all-French Australian football club, were founded in Strasbourg
in 2003 by Marc Jund with some friends, calling themselves the Kangaroos. The French national team at the 2005 and 2007 EU Cup
was composed mainly of Strasbourg players. Strasbourg has grown to now be the biggest Aussie Rules club in France.
In 2006, the club joined the Australian Football League Germany for its 2006 season. This required a name change, as the Munich Club was already nicknamed the Kangaroos - Strasbourg changing its name to the Black Devils. Strasbourg reverted to the Kangaroos name when they withdrew from the AFLG in 2007.
Bordeaux Bombers
The Bombers formed in late 2007 and began playing their first matches in 2008. They are the 6th club in France to play Australian Rules Football, they are also the first club in france to have a dedicated home oval.
Montpellier Fire Sharks
Formed in 2008, the Montpellier Firesharks made their debut at the French Cup in Paris in June. With a young side, they finished the tournament without a win. Their first victory came against the newly-formed Perpignan Tigers in early 2009.
At the end of 2010, they established a parternship the AFL club : Hawthorn Hawks.
They won 2 Mediterranean Cup, and defeat Paris in final of the 2010 French Cup. They finished 2nd of the 2011 Championship.
and Andorra
.
around 2006, based mainly around Rugby league
players. They hosted a match between the Reading Kangaroos
and a French national selection in 2006. The club also formed an organisation called Footy Catalan and considered joining the Catalan AFL, based in southern Catalonia
, for the 2007 season, but the club has since gone into recess.
The unrelated Perignan Tigers have since been founded in the city.
to be played in Prague in October.
is the premier league for Australian rules football in the world. The following French players have featured in this league:
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 France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
is currently played by seven clubs in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
, Perpignan
Perpignan
-Sport:Perpignan is a rugby stronghold: their rugby union side, USA Perpignan, is a regular competitor in the Heineken Cup and seven times champion of the Top 14 , while their rugby league side plays in the engage Super League under the name Catalans Dragons.-Culture:Since 2004, every year in the...
, Toulouse
Toulouse
Toulouse is a city in the Haute-Garonne department in southwestern FranceIt lies on the banks of the River Garonne, 590 km away from Paris and half-way between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea...
, Marseille
Marseille
Marseille , known in antiquity as Massalia , is the second largest city in France, after Paris, with a population of 852,395 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Marseille extends beyond the city limits with a population of over 1,420,000 on an area of...
and Montpellier
Montpellier
-Neighbourhoods:Since 2001, Montpellier has been divided into seven official neighbourhoods, themselves divided into sub-neighbourhoods. Each of them possesses a neighbourhood council....
. The Commission Nationale de Football Australien (CNFA) is the current ad-hoc governing body. There have been a number of other short-lived clubs in the country in the past, although the long distances between them have prevented the creation of a national league.
History
Australian rules football was played by Australian armed forces at PoperingePoperinge
Poperinge is a municipality located in the Belgian province of West Flanders, Flemish Region, and has a history going back to mediaeval times. The municipality comprises the town of Poperinge proper and surrounding villages. The area is famous for its hops and lace.-The town:Poperinge is situated...
in 1916. A match was also recorded as being played in Le Havre.
Australian football was first shown in France on Canal+
Canal+
Canal+ is a French premium pay television channel launched in 1984. It is 80% owned by the Canal+ Group, which in turn is owned by Vivendi SA. The channel broadcasts several kinds of programming, mostly encrypted...
television in the 1980s. Aussie Rules had been played sporadically in the 1990s by clubs in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, with the formation of the first club, Houquetot in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
. With the support of the Australian embassy, the club became the Montivilliers in 1998 and was nickamed "Tasmania" in reference to the Australian state. The first game was played against Australians in 1998, but the club disappeared the following year.
it wasn't until 2003-04 when the first stable teams began to appear, the first two being the primarily Australian-expat based Paris Cockerels and the mainly French Strasbourg Kangaroos. The first footy match on record between two 100% French teams was played in Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
on 3 December 2005, with the hometown Kangaroos defeating the Senlis Razorbacks 91-17.
A promotional match was played in March 2006 between English club Reading Kangaroos
Reading Kangaroos
The Reading Kangaroos are an Australian rules football club who play in the English town of Reading. Formed by Australians living in the area, the club quickly grew with strong local interest, now attracting players from all over Berkshire...
and a French national side in front of between 500 and 700 spectators in Perpignan
Perpignan
-Sport:Perpignan is a rugby stronghold: their rugby union side, USA Perpignan, is a regular competitor in the Heineken Cup and seven times champion of the Top 14 , while their rugby league side plays in the engage Super League under the name Catalans Dragons.-Culture:Since 2004, every year in the...
, including a sizeable media presence.
Owing to the large distances between clubs, there was no national league as such prior to the inaugrial 2009 season. Strasbourg competed in the Australian Football League Germany for 2006, with the Saint Esteve Saints considering joing the Catalan AFL for their 2007 season before going into recess. The first French club championship was held in Paris in 2008, with Paris, Strasbourg, Montpellier and Bordeaux
Bordeaux Bombers
The Bordeaux Bombers are an Australian Football club based in Bordeaux, France. It is the 6th club in France to play Australian Rules Football, after the Tasmania Montivilliers, Paris Cockerels, Strasbourg Kangaroos, Senlis Razorbacks and Saint-Estève Saints....
taking part.
National team
The first French national Aussie Rules team appeared at the 2005 EU CupEU 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...
in London
London
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...
. In September 2007 the French national Aussie Rules team competed in the 2007 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...
in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, finishing 7th overall with a record of 3 wins from 6 matches. The French team is unlikely to be ready for the 2008 Australian Football International Cup
Australian Football International Cup
The Australian Football International Cup is an international sport competition in Australian rules football...
, although they will be participating in the 2008 EU Cup in Prague.
On the 11.6.2011 the French team lost a friendly match against Germany in Paris 83:19.
The "Bleus" will participate at the International Cup 2011, for their first time.
Paris CockerelsParis CockerelsThe 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...
The Cockerels were formed in ParisParis
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 2003 by Australian expatriates, although they are now mainly local French players. They have played matches against the Brussels Saints and Flying Dutchmen, as well as games against other French teams, particularly the Strasbourg Kangaroos.
The Cockerels won the inaugural French Cup in 2008 and also in 2009.
Strasbourg KangaroosStrasbourg KangaroosThe Strasbourg Kangaroos are a French Australian Football Club based in the north of France in Strasbourg. They are touted as being the biggest Aussie Rules club in France and have appeared in the French Championship twice....
France's first all-French Australian football club, were founded in StrasbourgStrasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
in 2003 by Marc Jund with some friends, calling themselves the Kangaroos. The French national team at the 2005 and 2007 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...
was composed mainly of Strasbourg players. Strasbourg has grown to now be the biggest Aussie Rules club in France.
In 2006, the club joined the Australian Football League Germany for its 2006 season. This required a name change, as the Munich Club was already nicknamed the Kangaroos - Strasbourg changing its name to the Black Devils. Strasbourg reverted to the Kangaroos name when they withdrew from the AFLG in 2007.
Bordeaux BombersBordeaux BombersThe Bordeaux Bombers are an Australian Football club based in Bordeaux, France. It is the 6th club in France to play Australian Rules Football, after the Tasmania Montivilliers, Paris Cockerels, Strasbourg Kangaroos, Senlis Razorbacks and Saint-Estève Saints....
The Bombers formed in late 2007 and began playing their first matches in 2008. They are the 6th club in France to play Australian Rules Football, they are also the first club in france to have a dedicated home oval.Montpellier Fire SharksMontpellier Fire SharksThe Fire Sharks of Montpellier are a French Australian Rules Football club based in Montpellier. They're the 7th Australian football club in France, after the Tasmania Montivilliers, Paris Cockerels, Strasbourg Kangourous, Senlis Razorbacks, Saint-Estève Saints and the Bordeaux Bombers...
Formed in 2008, the Montpellier Firesharks made their debut at the French Cup in Paris in June. With a young side, they finished the tournament without a win. Their first victory came against the newly-formed Perpignan Tigers in early 2009.Toulouse Hawks
Formed at the end of 2008 as the "Toulouse Crocodiles" made their debut at the 2009 French Cup in Bordeaux in July.At the end of 2010, they established a parternship the AFL club : Hawthorn Hawks.
They won 2 Mediterranean Cup, and defeat Paris in final of the 2010 French Cup. They finished 2nd of the 2011 Championship.
Perpignan Tigers
Formed at the end 2008, the Perpignan Tigers played their first match again Montpellier in early 2009. They will start play in the Catalan Premiership in March 2009, together with teams from CataloniaCatalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
and Andorra
Andorra
Andorra , officially the Principality of Andorra , also called the Principality of the Valleys of Andorra, , is a small landlocked country in southwestern Europe, located in the eastern Pyrenees mountains and bordered by Spain and France. It is the sixth smallest nation in Europe having an area of...
.
St Estève Saints
The Saints formed in PerpignanPerpignan
-Sport:Perpignan is a rugby stronghold: their rugby union side, USA Perpignan, is a regular competitor in the Heineken Cup and seven times champion of the Top 14 , while their rugby league side plays in the engage Super League under the name Catalans Dragons.-Culture:Since 2004, every year in the...
around 2006, based mainly around Rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
players. They hosted a match between the Reading Kangaroos
Reading Kangaroos
The Reading Kangaroos are an Australian rules football club who play in the English town of Reading. Formed by Australians living in the area, the club quickly grew with strong local interest, now attracting players from all over Berkshire...
and a French national selection in 2006. The club also formed an organisation called Footy Catalan and considered joining the Catalan AFL, based in southern Catalonia
Catalonia
Catalonia is an autonomous community in northeastern Spain, with the official status of a "nationality" of Spain. Catalonia comprises four provinces: Barcelona, Girona, Lleida, and Tarragona. Its capital and largest city is Barcelona. Catalonia covers an area of 32,114 km² and has an...
, for the 2007 season, but the club has since gone into recess.
The unrelated Perignan Tigers have since been founded in the city.
2008
In June 2008 teams from Paris, Strasbourg, Bordeaux and Montpellier played in the first national French Cup in Paris. The Paris Cockerels defeated Strasbourg in the final. This competition also served as the national selections for the 2008 EU CupEU 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...
to be played in Prague in October.
2009
The teams of Paris, Strasbourg, Montpellier, Aix en Provence, Perpignan, Toulouse and Bordeaux came together to contest the Coupe de France on July 4, 2009 in Saint-Medard-en-Jalles near Bordeaux. The Paris Cockerels defeated Perpignan in the final giving the Parisians their second title in as many years.French Players in the Australian Football League
The Australian Football LeagueAustralian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
is the premier league for Australian rules football in the world. The following French players have featured in this league:
- Allan La FontaineAllan La FontaineAllan La Fontaine was an Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League.Born in Victoria, La Fontaine attended St Kevin's College, Melbourne. He was recruited from University Blacks as a brilliant full-forward, and was to earn his fame playing with the Melbourne Football Club as a...