World Footy News

On Saturday 22nd April of this year, five Czech Lions played a match in the AFL Germany, helping the Rheinland Lions to their first victory for the 2006 Season. Pavel Mikula, Chad Dixon, Kevan Lyons, Patrick Truss and Ashley Ball made the journey to Cologne to play against last years' AFLG Grand Finalists the Frankfurt Redbacks, the Rheinlanders coming away with a 69-24 victory.

The Rheinland Lions were formed for the 2004 season as the AFLG's fifth club - then named Düsseldorf. This season is the first the Lions have played under the Rheinland banner, which better represents their regional base with players from as far south as Bonn in the Rhine river valley.

The Czech and Rheinland Lions have a lot of former players in common, and the Rheinlanders were one of three sides to play off in the first-ever Prague Cup late 2005. With the Strasbourg Black Devils joining the AFLG in 2006, the possibility of non-German teams in the league has been shown to be a realistic future step for the league - and sources have suggested that it may have come up in coversation in the Czech camp as a possible direction for the future as well.

While the Czech Lions prepare for their inaugural tri-series with the Zagreb and Vienna clubs later this year, the Germans will play against the established Danish and Swedish national teams in what will be their first official A-level test match under IC eligibility rules.

The following report from the Rheinland-Frankfurt match courtesy of the Czech AFL.

Without a spare player on the bench and with 2005 Captain, and co-MVP, Nils Warnecke, out for the season due to injury, the Redbacks struggled against an enthusiastic and young Lions side. Newly appointed captain, Martin Neumann, dominated centre play and helped set up the Lions in almost every forward flurry.

First time players in the German League, Chad Dixon and Pavel Mikula showed promise with a quick adjustment to the Aussie Game. Many thanks also, to Patrick Truss for waving the white flags for the duration of the game.

Final score: Rheinland Lions 10.9.69 d Frankfurt Redbacks 3.6.24