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Expansion and innovation for ARFLI’s 10th birthday

  • Saturday, February 06 2010 @ 09:15 am ACDT
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The Australian Rules Football League of Ireland is celebrating its 10th year of existence with new and increased plans for expansion while also continuing to focus on the Irish Warriors national team. The league's website at ARFLI.com has been completely re-launched, with several new sections that it is hoped will spread the word of the sport across Ireland and beyond.

With the inaugural European Championships being held in Sweden and Denmark this year and the International Cup again being held in Australia in 2011, the ARFLI is keen for Irish players living abroad to become involved with the National team.

The league is aware of dozens of Irishmen playing the game throughout the world and how this would obviously strengthen the Warriors side. Indeed when Ireland finished fourth at the 2008 International Cup, Australian-based Mick Finn was named player of the tournament. As a result there is now a player registration form on the new website where players interested in being considered for the national side can register.

In addition to this, the England-based Irish Exiles have formally affiliated with the ARFLI.

The Irish Exiles started last year and played against the English Dragonslayers as well as competing in the EU Cup. The side consists of Irishmen that play in the ARUK leagues and it is hoped that the Exiles will send a team to the Super 9’s competition that traditionally acts as curtain raiser for the ARFLI premiership. This will be the perfect opportunity for the Exiles players to stake a claim for the national side.

Australian rules football in Ireland is gaining more publicity than ever, with close to a dozen Irishmen playing with AFL clubs. This is seen with the league expanding to eight teams for the new season, with new sides in Galway, Clare and Belfast.

The league is also actively recruiting umpires for the coming season. Training will be provided and fees will be paid for each game. With these new initiatives it is hoped this will continue to help the league to become one the strongest in the world outside of Australia.