World Footy News

Chinese footy has been, perhaps, the big news story of Aussie Rules in Asia in 2006, see Melbourne's China Experiment a Reality, and Footy's ambassador to China – interview with Tom Mattessi. In the next two weeks the first two teams comprised primarily of Chinese players will have their first matches, taking on the Beijing Bombers.

The Melbourne Football Club in conjunction with the Melbourne City Council, earlier this year launched a high profile push to develop Australian Rules in China. Central to the stated aims of the push is to see the game develop not just a fan base, but solid grassroots participation levels. This Saturday the 24th of June, thanks largely to volunteers on the ground as much as anything else, the first tentative results will come to fruition as the mainly expat Beijing Bombers take on a squad of Chinese nationals from the Tianjin Normal University Australian Football Team at the Australian International School.

For full information or to get involved, visit www.aussieruleschina.com. The report below is taken from that site.

TJ Normal University Tour to Beijing

June 21st, 2006

This Saturday 24th June marks a special day in Aussie Rules History. The recently formed Tianjin Normal University Australian Football Team will travel to Beijing to play with the Beijing Bombers team. Never before has a team of all Chinese players played a game against an Australian team. To be part of this historic day, meet at the Australian Embassy Front Gate at 3PM, for a 4PM training session. Training will be followed by a game and barbecue.

Next Saturday 1st of July Tianjin's second team, the Binhai Vocational College, will come to Beijing to play the Beijing Bombers. The next two Saturdays are important moments in the growth of Aussie Rules Football in China. The Beijing Bombers hope that all Beijing based Australians, and all interested locals, can come to the Australian School to support the game.