World Footy News

Australian Football League clubs Sydney and the Kangaroos will take professional Australian rules to the US when they clash in Los Angeles in January.

Melbourne's Herald-Sun newspaper reports that AFL administrators confirmed on Friday that the two clubs would play a match at the University of California in Los Angeles on January 15th. As previously reported on worldfootynews.com (North Melbourne versus Sydney in Los Angeles gets a step closer), the match will be a feature of Australia Week celebrations in the United States.

Kangaroos president Dr Allen Aylett, a former VFL administrator and long-time proponent of the Kangaroos scheduling a match in the US, was delighted by the announcement.

"The amount of exposure the code of Australian rules and the Kangaroos will receive from this will be priceless," Aylett said.

The Swans intend to make the match a central aspect of their pre-season preparation, and will travel to the US with their full list. Sydney chairman Richard Colless stated that his club intends to spend at least seven days training in southern California, including a visit to inspect the San Diego Chargers' facilities.

"We will use the time as a training camp whilst also taking the opportunity to visit a number of leading sporting teams in southern California with which various members of the club have developed relationships with over the years," Colless said.

It is not yet known whether either club will undertake any development clinics with local Australian rules clubs, but it is hoped that USfooty can benefit considerably from any opportunities arising from the match. Further information about the match can be viewed in an article on the afl.com.au website.