Welsh Australian Rules Football League
Encyclopedia
Australian Rules Football
has been played on an organised basis in Wales
since 2007, with the league and representative teams run and managed by the Welsh Australian Rules Football League (WARFL) who is the controlling body of the sport in the country. All six senior teams in the WARFL are named after clubs in the South Australian National Football League
.
was first played in Wales in 1944 when the 462 Squadron played against the second Sunderland Squadron formed teams based on State of Origin (Victoria vs Western Australia
) to play a match at Pembroke Dock
.
However in recent times regular competition began with the formation of Aussie Rules Wales on 1 September 2006 by Bryce Stone who comes from Adelaide in South Australia and has recent Welsh heritage. Three teams were formed in 2007 being Cardiff Double Blues
, South Cardiff Panthers
and Swansea Magpies
and competed in a 9-a-side format with modified rules in the Welsh division (WAFL) of the ARUK National league. Also the Swindon Devils from England's West Country
competed as a guest fourth side. The season concluded with the Swindon Devils defeating South Cardiff by 71 points to win the inaugural (and only) WAFL Premiership.
Aussie Rules Wales then ceased trading in January 2008 and was replaced by the independently-run WARFL which seeks to become the national governing body of the sport in Wales.
The inaugural WARFL Premiership season kicked off in May 2008, with the Cardiff Double Blues, South Cardiff Panthers and Swansea Magpies competing in 9 rounds in 9-a-side format with full AFL rules. The Cardiff Double Blues eventually defeated South Cardiff Panthers by 94 points to win the inaugural 2008 WARFL Premiership. South Cardiff Panthers' David James was awarded best on ground.
In 2009 Gwent Tigers based in Newport
joined the league in a 12 round competition with the 9-a-side format unchanged.
Also that year the WARFL introduced a pre-season competition known as the Cymru Clwb Cup played at Waunarlwydd RFC
in Swansea
where the three foundation clubs competed. The Cardiff Double Blues won the tournament winning both of their round robin matches.
At the end of the Premiership South Cardiff Panthers played Swansea Magpies at Llandaff Fields
in Cardiff where South Cardiff won by two points to win their first Premiership after being runners up in 2007 and 2008. Swansea Magpies' Matthew Hopkins was awarded best on ground.
2010 saw further expansion of the league with the Vale Warriors based at Barry RFC
entering. The second Cymru Clwb Challenge was played at Llandaff Fields with all WARFL clubs playing except for Gwent Tigers who did not field a team due to player unavailability. South Cardiff Panthers won all their matches winning the competition with Cardiff Doubles Blues player Rhys Morgan awarded player of the tournament.
That year the league ran as a 10 round competition with each team playing 8 matches and having 2 byes and continuing in the 9-a-side format. On the 24th July the top of the league South Cardiff Panthers played against Swansea Magpies at Barry RFC where South Cardiff won by 71 points to be the first club in WARFL history to win consecutive Premierships. South Cardiff Panthers' ruckman Chris James was awarded best on ground.
The Bridgend Eagles based at Heol y Cyw RFC
is scheduled to enter the WARFL in 2011.
The other representative team organised by the WARFL is the Welsh national team known as the "Cymru Red Dragons". The Red Dragons is primarily made up of players from the WARFL, however does include Welsh players from other leagues around the world.
WARFL Red Devils
The Red Devils first played in the 2007 AFL Britain
National Championships known as the Brit Cup, representing the first Welsh side in the tournament's history. Thereafter the Red Devils have played in every Brit Cup including the 2010 tournament. The Red Devils have also appeared at the 2008 "Haggis Cup" the first time a Welsh team had played in Scotland and again in 2009 but did not field a team in 2010.
Cymru Red Dragons
In November 2007, the Red Dragons became the first all-Welsh representative team when they hosted the England Dragonslayers in Cardiff for the "Dragon Cup", England winning by 30 points.
In the second series of the Dragon Cup, the Cymru Red Dragons defeated 2008 EU Cup champions England Dragonslayers in Reading and Newport by 92 points (aggregate score over 2 tests) to win the Dragon Cup for the first time. However in September 2009 England defeated Wales in Cardiff and London to regain the Dragon Cup.
The inaugural "Bute Series" for the Crichton-Stuart Cup with Scotland Clansmen (which was also Scotland's first ever Australian Rules football international) was played in Glasgow and Cardiff over two tests in October 2009. The Cymru Red Dragons won the series on aggregate of 30 points with Scotland winning the first test and Wales winning at home in Cardiff the following week.
Andrew Atack (South Cardiff Panthers), David Carpenter (Cardiff Double Blues), Liam Corbett (Cardiff Double Blues), Ed Doe (South Cardiff Panthers), Tom Gillard (Cardiff Double Blues), Mark Horsman (South Cardiff Panthers), David James (South Cardiff Panthers), Tom Judson (Cardiff Double Blues) and Gareth Sturge (Cardiff Double Blues).
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...
has been played on an organised basis in Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
since 2007, with the league and representative teams run and managed by the Welsh Australian Rules Football League (WARFL) who is the controlling body of the sport in the country. All six senior teams in the WARFL are named after clubs in the South Australian National Football League
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
.
History
Australian rules footballAustralian 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...
was first played in Wales in 1944 when the 462 Squadron played against the second Sunderland Squadron formed teams based on State of Origin (Victoria vs Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
) to play a match at Pembroke Dock
Pembroke Dock
Pembroke Dock is a town in Pembrokeshire, south-west Wales, lying north of Pembroke on the River Cleddau. Originally a small fishing village known as Paterchurch, the town was greatly expanded from 1814 onwards following the construction of a Royal Naval Dockyard...
.
However in recent times regular competition began with the formation of Aussie Rules Wales on 1 September 2006 by Bryce Stone who comes from Adelaide in South Australia and has recent Welsh heritage. Three teams were formed in 2007 being Cardiff Double Blues
Cardiff Double Blues
The Cardiff Double Blues are an Australian Rules Football team based in Cardiff, Wales. They play in the Welsh Australian Rules Football League under the 9-a-side footy rules.- History :...
, South Cardiff Panthers
South Cardiff Panthers
The South Cardiff Panthers are an Australian Rules Football team based in Cardiff, Wales. They play in the Welsh Australian Rules Football League under a 9-a-side rules format.-History:...
and Swansea Magpies
Swansea Magpies
The Swansea Magpies are an Australian Rules Football club based in Swansea, Wales. They play in the Welsh Australian Rules Football League under the 9-a-side footy rules.- History :...
and competed in a 9-a-side format with modified rules in the Welsh division (WAFL) of the ARUK National league. Also the Swindon Devils from England's West Country
West Country
The West Country is an informal term for the area of south western England roughly corresponding to the modern South West England government region. It is often defined to encompass the historic counties of Cornwall, Devon, Dorset and Somerset and the City of Bristol, while the counties of...
competed as a guest fourth side. The season concluded with the Swindon Devils defeating South Cardiff by 71 points to win the inaugural (and only) WAFL Premiership.
Aussie Rules Wales then ceased trading in January 2008 and was replaced by the independently-run WARFL which seeks to become the national governing body of the sport in Wales.
The inaugural WARFL Premiership season kicked off in May 2008, with the Cardiff Double Blues, South Cardiff Panthers and Swansea Magpies competing in 9 rounds in 9-a-side format with full AFL rules. The Cardiff Double Blues eventually defeated South Cardiff Panthers by 94 points to win the inaugural 2008 WARFL Premiership. South Cardiff Panthers' David James was awarded best on ground.
In 2009 Gwent Tigers based in Newport
Newport
Newport is a city and unitary authority area in Wales. Standing on the banks of the River Usk, it is located about east of Cardiff and is the largest urban area within the historic county boundaries of Monmouthshire and the preserved county of Gwent...
joined the league in a 12 round competition with the 9-a-side format unchanged.
Also that year the WARFL introduced a pre-season competition known as the Cymru Clwb Cup played at Waunarlwydd RFC
Waunarlwydd RFC
Waunarlwydd Rugby Football Club are a Welsh rugby union club based in the village of Waunarlwydd, Swansea. Waunarlwydd are a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and are a feeder club for the Ospreys....
in Swansea
Swansea
Swansea is a coastal city and county in Wales. Swansea is in the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan. Situated on the sandy South West Wales coast, the county area includes the Gower Peninsula and the Lliw uplands...
where the three foundation clubs competed. The Cardiff Double Blues won the tournament winning both of their round robin matches.
At the end of the Premiership South Cardiff Panthers played Swansea Magpies at Llandaff Fields
Llandaff Fields
Llandaff Fields is a large parkland spanning parts of central and northern Cardiff, Wales.The park is owned by Cardiff Council and managed by its Parks department. The parkland is highly visible and accessed from local communities. The parkland is lined with avenues of trees and large grassed areas...
in Cardiff where South Cardiff won by two points to win their first Premiership after being runners up in 2007 and 2008. Swansea Magpies' Matthew Hopkins was awarded best on ground.
2010 saw further expansion of the league with the Vale Warriors based at Barry RFC
Barry RFC
Barry Rugby Football Club is a Welsh rugby union club based in Barry in Vale of Glamorgan, Wales. The club is a member of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Cardiff Blues.....
entering. The second Cymru Clwb Challenge was played at Llandaff Fields with all WARFL clubs playing except for Gwent Tigers who did not field a team due to player unavailability. South Cardiff Panthers won all their matches winning the competition with Cardiff Doubles Blues player Rhys Morgan awarded player of the tournament.
That year the league ran as a 10 round competition with each team playing 8 matches and having 2 byes and continuing in the 9-a-side format. On the 24th July the top of the league South Cardiff Panthers played against Swansea Magpies at Barry RFC where South Cardiff won by 71 points to be the first club in WARFL history to win consecutive Premierships. South Cardiff Panthers' ruckman Chris James was awarded best on ground.
The Bridgend Eagles based at Heol y Cyw RFC
Heol y Cyw RFC
Heol y Cyw Rugby Football Club are a rugby union club based in the Heol-y-Cyw, Wales. Heol y Cyw RFC are members of the Welsh Rugby Union and is a feeder club for the Cardiff Blues.Heol-y-Cyw RFC were formed in 1906...
is scheduled to enter the WARFL in 2011.
WARFL Clubs
The league is organised in a similar fashion to the SANFL, with the top two teams at the end of the "home and away" season playing off in the Grand Final for the Premiership Cup.| Club | Year established | SANFL Partner Club | Cymru Clwb Cup winners | League winners | League Premiership winners |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bridgend Eagles | 2010 | Woodville-West Torrens Football Club Woodville-West Torrens Football Club Woodville-West Torrens Football Club is an Australian rules football club playing in the South Australian National Football League . It was formed in 1990 from an amalgamation of the neighbouring Woodville and West Torrens football clubs and played its inaugural game in 1991... |
0 | 0 | 0 |
| Cardiff Double Blues Cardiff Double Blues The Cardiff Double Blues are an Australian Rules Football team based in Cardiff, Wales. They play in the Welsh Australian Rules Football League under the 9-a-side footy rules.- History :... |
2007 | Sturt Football Club Sturt Football Club Sturt Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the South Australian National Football League. The club is best known for its period of dominance from 1966–76 under legendary coach Jack Oatey, during which it revolutionised the style of play by emphasising teamwork and accurate ball... |
1 (2009) | 1 (2008) | 1 (2008) |
| Gwent Tigers | 2008 | Glenelg Football Club | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| South Cardiff Panthers South Cardiff Panthers The South Cardiff Panthers are an Australian Rules Football team based in Cardiff, Wales. They play in the Welsh Australian Rules Football League under a 9-a-side rules format.-History:... |
2007 | South Adelaide Football Club South Adelaide Football Club South Adelaide Football Club competes in the South Australian National Football League . Known as the Panthers, their home ground is Hickinbotham Oval , located in Noarlunga Downs in the southern suburbs of Adelaide.... |
2 (2010, 2011) | 2 (2009, 2010) | 2 (2009, 2010) |
| Swansea Magpies Swansea Magpies The Swansea Magpies are an Australian Rules Football club based in Swansea, Wales. They play in the Welsh Australian Rules Football League under the 9-a-side footy rules.- History :... |
2007 | Port Adelaide Magpies Football Club | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vale Warriors | 2009 | Woodville-West Torrens Football Club Woodville-West Torrens Football Club Woodville-West Torrens Football Club is an Australian rules football club playing in the South Australian National Football League . It was formed in 1990 from an amalgamation of the neighbouring Woodville and West Torrens football clubs and played its inaugural game in 1991... |
0 | 0 | 0 |
WARFL League & Grand Final Results
| Year | League winners | Premiers | Grand Final venue | Grand Final Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Swindon Devils | Swindon Devils | St Peters RFC, Cardiff | Swindon Devils 20.8 (128) South Cardiff Panthers 7.15 (57) |
| 2008 | Cardiff Double Blues | Cardiff Double Blues | St Peters RFC, Cardiff | Cardiff Double Blues 18.18 (126) South Cardiff Panthers 2.20 (32) |
| 2009 | South Cardiff Panthers | South Cardiff Panthers | Llandaff Fields, Cardiff | South Cardiff Panthers 8.10 (58) Swansea Magpies 8.8 (56) |
| 2010 | South Cardiff Panthers | South Cardiff Panthers | Barry RFC, Barry | South Cardiff Panthers 17.20 (121) Swansea Magpies 8.3 (51) |
WARFL Player Awards
| Year | Best & Fairest | Top Goal Scorer | Rookie of the Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Daniel Morgan-Kane South Cardiff Panthers |
Gareth Jones South Cardiff Panthers |
Ed Doe South Cardiff Panthers |
| 2008 | David Saunders Cardiff Double Blues |
Tom Judson Cardiff Double Blues |
Gareth Llewellyn South Cardiff Panthers |
| 2009 | Rhys Jones Swansea Magpies |
Andrew Atack South Cardiff Panthers |
Gareth Sturge Cardiff Double Blues |
| 2010 | David Gamble South Cardiff Panthers |
Leigh Merrington South Cardiff Panthers |
Joshua Davey South Cardiff Panthers |
League and National representative teams
Two representative sides are organised by the WARFL, one to represent the national league which is an all-stars side known as the "WARFL Red Devils" drawn solely from the WARFL regardless of nationality.The other representative team organised by the WARFL is the Welsh national team known as the "Cymru Red Dragons". The Red Dragons is primarily made up of players from the WARFL, however does include Welsh players from other leagues around the world.
WARFL Red Devils
The Red Devils first played in the 2007 AFL Britain
AFL Britain
The 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....
National Championships known as the Brit Cup, representing the first Welsh side in the tournament's history. Thereafter the Red Devils have played in every Brit Cup including the 2010 tournament. The Red Devils have also appeared at the 2008 "Haggis Cup" the first time a Welsh team had played in Scotland and again in 2009 but did not field a team in 2010.
Cymru Red Dragons
In November 2007, the Red Dragons became the first all-Welsh representative team when they hosted the England Dragonslayers in Cardiff for the "Dragon Cup", England winning by 30 points.
In the second series of the Dragon Cup, the Cymru Red Dragons defeated 2008 EU Cup champions England Dragonslayers in Reading and Newport by 92 points (aggregate score over 2 tests) to win the Dragon Cup for the first time. However in September 2009 England defeated Wales in Cardiff and London to regain the Dragon Cup.
The inaugural "Bute Series" for the Crichton-Stuart Cup with Scotland Clansmen (which was also Scotland's first ever Australian Rules football international) was played in Glasgow and Cardiff over two tests in October 2009. The Cymru Red Dragons won the series on aggregate of 30 points with Scotland winning the first test and Wales winning at home in Cardiff the following week.
National Team Results
| Date | Against Nation | Tournament | Venue | Score | Series Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd Nov 2007 | England | Dragon Cup | St Peters RFC, Cardiff, Wales | Cymru Red Dragons 9.7 (61) England Dragonslayers 12.19 (91) |
England won by 30 points |
| 18th Oct 2008 | England | Dragon Cup - 1st Test | Kings Park, Reading, England | England Dragonslayers 7.7 (49) Cymru Red Dragons 11.13 (79) |
|
| 25th Oct 2008 | England | Dragon Cup - 2nd Test | Tredegar Park, Newport, Wales | Cymru Red Dragons 15.16 (106) England Dragonslayers (44) |
Wales 2-0 |
| 12th Sept 2009 | England | Dragon Cup - 1st Test | St Colmcilles GAA, Cardiff, Wales | Cymru Red Dragons 6.13 (49) England Dragonslayers 6.18 (54) |
|
| 19th Sept 2009 | England | Dragon Cup - 2nd Test | London, England | England Dragonslayers 13.10 (88) Cymru Red Dragons 3.3 (21) |
England 2-0 |
| 17th Oct 2009 | Scotland | Bute Series - 1st Test | Bellahouston Park, Glasgow, Scotland | Scotland Clansmen 8.12 (60) Cymru Red Dragons 7.2 (44) |
|
| 24th Oct 2009 | Scotland | Bute Series - 2nd Test | St Colmcilles GAA, Cardiff, Wales | Cymru Red Dragons (66) Scotland Clansmen (36) |
Wales 1-1 (30 points on aggreagate) |
| 7th Aug 2010 | Scotland | Bute Series - 1st Test | St Colmcilles GAA, Cardiff, Wales | Cymru Red Dragons 9.8 (62) Scotland Clansmen 26.28 (184) |
|
| 21st Aug 2010 | Scotland | Bute Series - 2nd Test | Victoria Park, Glasgow, Scotland | Scotland Clansmen 12.11 (83) Cymru Red Dragons 5.6 (36) |
Scotland 2-0 |
| 18th Sept 2010 | England | Dragon Cup - 1st Test | Chippenham RFC, England | England Dragonslayers 6.14 (48) Cymru Red Dragons 4.12 (36) |
|
| 26th Sept 2010 | England | Dragon Cup - 2nd Test | St Colmcilles GAA, Cardiff, Wales | Cymru Red Dragons 4.4 (28) England Dragonslayers 15.12 (102) |
England 2-0 |
| 2nd Oct 2010 | Austria | Euro Cup - 1st Round | Parabiago, Milan, Italy | Cymru Red Dragons 5.10 (40) Austria Kangaroos 0.4 (4) |
|
| 2nd Oct 2010 | Croatia | Euro Cup - 2nd Round | Parabiago, Milan, Italy | Croatia Knights 7.9 (51) Cymru Red Dragons 4.0 (24) |
|
| 2nd Oct 2010 | Spain | Euro Cup – Plate Round | Parabiago, Milan, Italy | Spain Bulls 5.1 (31) Cymru Red Dragons 3.6 (24) |
Wales (7th place) Croatia winners |
Wales Player Awards
| Year | Best & Fairest | Top Goal Scorer | Rookie of the Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Tom Case Swindon Devils |
Ed Doe South Cardiff Panthers |
N/A |
| 2008 | David James South Cardiff Panthers |
Ed Doe South Cardiff Panthers |
N/A |
| 2009 | David Saunders South Cardiff Panthers |
Gareth Sturge Cardiff Double Blues |
N/A |
| 2010 | Gareth Griffiths Vale Warriors |
Andrew Atack South Cardiff Panthers |
George Llewellyn Portsmouth Pirates |
Great Britain Bulldogs
As of 2010, nine players from the WARFL have played for the Great Britain Bulldogs, these being:Andrew Atack (South Cardiff Panthers), David Carpenter (Cardiff Double Blues), Liam Corbett (Cardiff Double Blues), Ed Doe (South Cardiff Panthers), Tom Gillard (Cardiff Double Blues), Mark Horsman (South Cardiff Panthers), David James (South Cardiff Panthers), Tom Judson (Cardiff Double Blues) and Gareth Sturge (Cardiff Double Blues).
External links
- WARFL website
- Bridgend Eagles website
- Cardiff Double Blues website
- Gwent Tigers website
- South Cardiff Panthers website
- Swansea Magpies website
- Vale Warriors website