World Footy News

The North Leinster Australian Football Club has a new nickname following an historic affiliation agreement with the AFL's newest club, the Greater Western Sydney Giants.

Under the terms of the affiliation agreement, Irish club North Leinster become an affiliate of the dynamic new club, bearing the club's nickname, wearing the team's colours and promoting the Giants brand in Ireland.

This affiliation will greatly assist the development of Ireland's newest club and speaking about the deal, North Leinster President Ross Dack had this to say - "We couldn't be more grateful to the Giants for their interest in our development and in assisting us in getting off the ground properly through the provision of playing kit and footballs. For us this is the beginning of what we hope will be a long and mutually beneficial relationship."

The affiliation was facilitated by Giants Academy manager Lachlan Buszard, who was one of Ireland's coaches during the 2011 AFL International Cup campaign, and he declared the club to be very happy with the association -

"We see ourselves as a club for all, not just in Western Sydney, Southern New South Wales and the ACT; but also Internationally and to that end we have been aligning with new clubs across Europe and assisting them in their growth too. For us developing a community, wherever that may be is beneficial and naturally with Setanta O hAilpin here we hope the club is taken to the hearts of a great many Irish people."

North Leinster also announced this week the publication and launch of the club's new website, which can be found at northleinster.com. The North Leinster club was created last year as the North Leinster Kangaroos, through a merger of the Midlands Tigers and West Dublin Saints.