World Footy News

The newly-renamed British "Clwb" Challenge will be kicking off at 12pm this Saturday April 17th, with the 2009 WARFL Grand Finalists South Cardiff Panthers vs Swansea Magpies at the Llandaff Fields in Cardiff's city centre.

In the tournament’s 3rd year, the WARFL are making their marquee tournament an invitational club event, hoping to draw the best clubs from across the isle - especially the teams that reached the 2009 Grand Final of their respective Scottish, English and Welsh regional leagues.

In the 2008 tournament the Manchester Mosquitoes defeated Bristol Dockers for the title, then known as the Cardiff "Clwb" Challenge. In 2009 however, the Mosquitoes couldn't quite defend their title, with Nottingham Scorpions losing one match for the day and finishing at the top of the table.

This year the tournament will be in a 9-a-side AFL GB format, playing 2x12 minute halves. The Birmingham Bears, Nottingham Scorpions, Portsmouth Pirates, South Cardiff Panthers, Swansea Magpies and West London Wildcats will fight it out in a tournament consisting of 8 rounds, each of the clubs playing each other over 5 matches each.

2010 BRITISH "CLWB" CHALLENGE FIXTURE

Rd 1 - 12:00PM
Pitch A - South Cardiff PANTHERS v Swansea MAGPIES

Rd 2 - 12:35PM
Pitch A - South Cardiff PANTHERS v Birmingham BEARS
Pitch B - West London WILDCATS v Nottingham SCORPIONS

Rd 3 - 13:10PM
Pitch A - Swansea MAGPIES v Portsmouth PIRATES
Pitch B - West London WILDCATS v Birmingham BEARS

Rd 4 - 13:45PM
Pitch A - Nottingham SCORPIONS v Swansea MAGPIES
Pitch B - Portsmouth PIRATES v South Cardiff PANTHERS

Rd 5 - 14:20PM
Pitch A - Birmingham BEARS v Swansea MAGPIES
Pitch B - Portsmouth PIRATES v Nottingham SCORPIONS

Rd 6 - 14:55PM
Pitch A - West London WILDCATS v South Cardiff PANTHERS
Pitch B - Portsmouth PIRATES v Birmingham BEARS

Rd 7 - 15:30PM
Pitch A - West London WILDCATS v Swansea MAGPIES
Pitch B - Nottingham SCORPIONS v South Cardiff PANTHERS

Rd 8 - 16:05PM
Pitch A - West London WILDCATS v Portsmouth PIRATES
Pitch B - Nottingham SCORPIONS V Birmingham BEARS

Elimination Final - 16:45PM
Pitch A - 2nd v 3rd

Grand Final - 17:30PM
Pitch A - 1st v winner of 2nd v 3rd

2010 TOURNAMENT GUILDLINES

* Tournament to be held on Saturday, 17th April in Cardiff

* Free entry for all clubs

* Maximum of 6 clubs to enter (We were hoping to have a 8 team competition this year, however some clubs have had to unfortunately withdraw due to player unavailability)

* Maximum squad size of 20, no nationality restrictions and must be 16 years of age or above on day of tournament

* 9-a-side format, with AFL GB rules (Yellow & Red cards will be in force - further clarification of Yellow & Red card infringements to be forwarded next week along with tournament and game play rules)

* Each match will consist of two 12 minute halfs with a 4 minute halftime break

* One group of 6 teams playing each other once (5 matches per club in the minor round)

* Team that finishes top of the group to enter straight into Grand Final with the second and third placed teams play off for a place in the Grand Final (if clubs are on equal win loss ratio, goals for and against will determine which teams goes through to the next round)

* 2011 tournament planned (hopefully in conjunction with AFL Great Britain) to be held in either Barry, Newport or Swansea with invitations going out to all clubs who were 2010 Grand Finalists from their respective league within Britain.

Presentations and after party will be held from 7pm onwards at our league and national team sponsor tigertiger.

Awards this year will be:

* Leading goal scorer medal

* "Best & fairest" player of tournament medal (decided by field umpires - players only eligible for medal if did not receive three or more yellow cards and/or one red card during tournament)

* Gold medals to players and coach from winning team

* Cup to be presented to the winning coach and captain

For more information on the British "Clwb" Challenge, please visit warfl.co.uk.