World Footy News

The International Rules Series returns this October with Test matches between Ireland and Australia at Subiaco Oval in Perth and the MCG in Melbourne. But an interesting story from the Sydney Morning Herald notes that the AFL wanted to play a match in Sydney at either the SCG or ANZ stadium on the eve of the Rugby League world cup.

Australian Rugby League chairman Colin Love said he “would be extremely disappointed if it was the aim of the AFL to rain on our parade." However AFL CEO, Andrew Demetriou, noted that the GAA was keen for the game to go on in Sydney because of calls in the past from the Irish diaspora there for a match to be played.

The ARL chairman’s comments seem a bit precious, perhaps he should’ve thought of the 2003 Rugby Union World Cup when on the same weekend thousands of Irish men and women decended on Melbourne and 60,000 attended the International Rules Test at the MCG and 56,000 the Rugby WC match at Telstra Dome. The more the merrier seemed the theme that weekend.

Meanwhile Melbourne’s Herald Sun reports Pies firm on Dublin game on Collingwood taking on Dublin as soon as this November. The match would mean a busy end of year to Collingwood players who would be hoping for late September finals action, and several of whom would be likely selections for the national side in the International Rules in October. This game featured earlier on WFN Magpies to play Sky Blues.