World Footy News

Posted on behalf of WFN writer Aaron.

Croatia's Zagreb Hawks will play host to the West London Wildcats on March 31st this year, with the Wildcats venturing to eastern Europe for the first time after recent years saw them take on sides in Denmark, Sweden and Barcelona as pre-season warm-ups. The match will be held in the city of Split, where organisers hope a new team can be created in the near future.

The Wildcats have a history of running up some big scores against mainland European sides, but the Croats will be keen to show they've come a long way in their short history. The Hawks last year defeated all other eastern European competition faced, faltering only against the Finland Lions when representing Croatia in the final of the Central European Championships in Prague.  The club has recently also received a set of jumpers from sister club Hawthorn and hope to do the colours proud.

Although there have been some attempts to start clubs in Rijeka and (reportedly) now also in Split, Zagreb are currently the only Aussie Rules club in Croatia and double as the "Croatian Knights" national team in the red and white checkered jumpers from the Croatian team which competed in the Multicultural Cup. The Croatian Knights will this year again compete in the Tri-Nations series against Austria and the Czech Republic, hoping they can defend the trophy they earned last year, as well as a proposed match against a London-based Convicts touring side (as opposed to the Australian-based tourists) and the EU Cup which is currently planned for Hamburg, Germany later this year.