World Footy News

Courtesy of Matt Hegarty.

The Japan AFL held its annual two-day Australian Rules Football Carnival, the International Narita Cup, over the previous weekend, June 10 and 11 2006. Originally only contested by Japanese based teams, a rapid growth in the competition followed the 2001 inclusion of Australian VAFA team, Box Hill North. Box Hill North return again in 2006 hoping to avenge their 2005 grand final loss to the Japanese national squad, the Samurais, who have been forced to compete without star players Michito Sakaki and Tsuyoshi Kase, both trying their luck in Australia after training pre-season with AFL club, Essendon.

The Narita Cup has been a great success each year despite the fact that teams from across the Asia region have been only able to compete on a limited basis due to distance, travelling costs and tournament schedules.

Stay tuned for 2006 results. Below is a brief review of the 2005 Cup.

In 2005, the Narita Cup was again held at the Radisson Hotel Narita. It saw the Samurais split into A and B squads to compete against the Japan based teams, the Tokyo Goannas, Go-Kongs (Samurai old boys) and Osaka Dingoes, as well as Japan AFL sister club, the Box Hill Hawks. The competition also saw the strong participation of women's teams, the Osaka Bilbies and Tokyo Geckos. In the men’s competition it was eventually the Samurais completing a tremendous display of football over two days to defeat a plucky and gallant Box Hill in a tough, action packed final for the second year in a row.

Final Ladder
1. Samurais A
2. Box Hill North
3. Tokyo Goannas
4. Go-Kongs
5. Samurais B
6. Osaka