World Footy News

At 1pm on Wednesday 3rd August the Irish opened their International Cup title defence with a narrow win over much improved Canada, running out 8 point winners after trailing at the last change.

The Spanish Bull's took on the Japanese Samurai in the opening game of the tournament. The new guys were an unknown quantity, and were facing a side that has big plans in 2005 after a winless 2002.

Three years after the inaugural International Cup, ten nations have gathered in Melbourne Australia for the second such tournament. After the late withdrawal of Nauru the draw was re-done and five matches scheduled for the first day's play, at Murphy Reserve, Port Melbourne. The day also featured an official opening ceremony.

In the first round of matches played in the Australian Football International Cup, a very quick Japanese side defeated Spain 88-17, PNG overcame a very tough Samoa 59-36, Ireland trailed Canada at three-quarter time but came home to win 31-23, the USA beat a much-improved South Africa 62-34 and New Zealand accounted for Great Britain.

Match reports and photos coming soon, for updated scores as they come to hand throughout the International Cup, click here.

The following is a press release contibuted by Sean Smith, Irish Team Media Officer. Note that the semi-final and Grand Final positions is obviously subject to them qualifying.

Events in Melbourne over the next two weeks will again demonstrate that world class Irish efforts are not limited to drowning shamrocks and U2.

In the lead-up to the second International Cup the British Bulldogs have been training hard under the guidance of former Adelaide Crows premiership player Matt Connell. The Brits are quietly confident of their chances over the next few weeks. World Footy News (WFN) spoke with Connell about his career and Aussie footy in the UK.

Fiatupu To’oto’o, most valuable player at the 2002 International Cup, will be lining up again for the Samoan Bulldogs this August. Internet news source eventpolynesia.com profiled the star and Australian football generally in the island nation.

The AFL have again amended the draw for the International Cup 2005 following the withdrawal of Denmark and at very late notice Nauru (both mainly due to financial problems). The Pool system has been eliminated, and all sides play 4 games, after which the top 4 sides play off in semi-finals for the right to play in the MCG Grand Final. The lower 6 teams play off amongst themselves. As disappointng as this is for the countries that were unable to attend, it does ensure a more exciting competition, with the semi-finals guaranteed to be top matches.

With the International Cup starting this Wednesday we're starting to see numerous articles appearing in the mainstream Melbourne media. In the Herald Sun Jordan Chong spoke with US Revolution players Chris Carroll and Jay Mueller, and Essendon coach Kevin Sheedy, who along with Ron Barassi is the highest profile AFL advocate for spreading the great Australian game.

As reigning International Cup champions, the pressure is on Ireland to defend their title. Their league was only young when they lifted the first cup, so with more experience they will be difficult to beat.

The Kokoda International Cavaliers Klub (KICK), an organisation formed in Papua New Guinea to promote and raise funds for the AFLPNG and Australian Football in general in the country, is planning to open two new chapters in Adelaide and Melbourne. Last Wednesday, July 27th, the KICK Port Moresby chapter held a player auction in support of the Mosquitoes' assault on the IC - with special guest speaker Ron Barassi. WFN caught up with 'Mr Football' to talk about the Cup and international footy in general.

Fixtures involving Nauru have been omitted from a revised International Cup draw posted on afl.com.au, suggesting that the struggling Pacific nation has withdrawn from the competition.