World Footy News

The AFL New Zealand U-18 Kahus – Maori for Hawks – will play their debut game against the touring Australian Youth Girls High Performance Academy team in October. The format of this first ever showdown between the two countries will be a three-match test series.

Kahus players will be selected by a series of combine style AFL skills tests, trials, training camps and the AFL New Zealand High Performance Programme. School programmes, testing and trials were also conducted throughout June and players who impressed the coaches during these sessions will be advanced onto the High Performance Programme.

After this, potential players will be further trained at the end of August, then after the regional Youth Girls competition in September, a final squad will be selected to represent New Zealand against Australia.

This will be the first time for female Australian Football players to represent New Zealand and also the first time for an Australian Youth Girls team to do an international tour and represent their country on foreign soil. As well as the test series’ history making significance, it will also be a chance for the coaches to view the Kahus’ match ability ahead of the 2014 International Cup, where they plan to enter a senior women’s team.

For more information on how to get involved in the trials or participate in the squad selection programme, please contact the AFL New Zealand High Performance Development Manager, Mick Coultard on hawkscup@aflnz.co.nz