World Footy News

The Victorian Amateur Football Association (VAFA) are sending their Under 18 age group representative team to Auckland in October to play the New Zealand Under 20 team in two matches over the NZ Labour Day weekend in Auckland.

The New Zealand Under 20’s team had initially been included in the Senior National Provincial Championships to be held at Parrs Park Auckland whilst confirmation of the Victorian side's touring availability was determined. With the amateur side's attendance confirmed, the Senior NPC will now revert to its normal format with the four regions Wellington, Auckland, Waikato and Canterbury contesting for senior honours.

The two matches between the New Zealand Under 20’s and the Victorian Amateur Under 18’s will take place in conjunction with the Senior NPC with the first game on Saturday October 24th at 2.00pm and the second match on Monday October 26th at noon. This is just fantastic news as one of the great barriers for further developing the NZ game has been the reluctance of Australian teams to tour NZ. Though the footy played in NZ might not always have been of a great level to offer a real competitive game the opportunity to travel as a pre-season, mid season or end of season Club trip with footy and tourism thrown in should have regularly seen Clubs coming across. This hasn’t happened with only the Australian Defence Force in 1996 and the Maffra Eagles in more recent times making the effort at senior level.

There is no doubt that the NZ standard of play has continued to improve and would improve still further from regular matches against Australian teams whether at Club, League or National standard. Hopefully the Ammos U18 trip will help to promote NZ as a footy trip destination and be a great success for all involved.

For more on the trip please see http://www.nzafl.co.nz/News/Victorian...fault.aspx