The new group bringing Australian rules football to Moscow were the subject for the following report in the English-language Moscow News this week.

Mentioned in the article are the group's plans to attend the 2011 Euro Cup in Belfast, which will mark the first appearance of a Russian national team on the international stage.

The Moscow footy circle kicked off at the start of June, and are planning to launch their first two local league teams in the coming weeks. This is in addition to the group in Krasnoyarsk, Siberia, who also started playing footy in Russia earlier this year.

The full article from the Moscow Times is reprinted below, at left is one of the proposed designs for the inaugural Russian national team jumper.

On Channel 9's The Footy Show two week's ago an international flavour came to the long running popular Almost Football Legends segment. The segment features videos sent in from the public with footy highlights. In this case the segment featured English teams Manchester vs Birmingham and also a great mark from PNG young gun David Meli. In the Youtube video below the segment can be seen from the 2 minute 45 second mark.

The Italian national women's side defeated Bolivia 36-10 in Fontanafredda last weekend, achieving their first-ever victory.

Team Bolivian were represented by a squad of Bolivians playing footy in the new Italian women's league, which kicked off recently with 4 active clubs, and 2 more hoping to join soon.

This report courtesy of Daniela Scalia.

Scottish Auskick is a juniors program that will teach children the fundamental skills needed to play Aussie Rules. The organisation was formed in late 2010 to cover a need to develop and grow the game in Scotland, especially at a junior level, and help alleviate some of the annual need to look for new mature aged players to play the sport that each club must go through.

It is hoped by teaching the game in Schools and setting up junior leagues, these players will then progress to Club and hopefully International level.

It was decided to use the name Scottish ‘Auskick’ and retain the link with the already established and successful NAB Auskick program in Australia so that people would perhaps recognise what the program was about instantly when they heard the name. Rather than rush into a program we decided to first seek the correct accreditation to enable our Coaches to teach in Schools and in the community, and for this, Scottish Auskick would like to thank ‘AFL Auskick’ and Disclosure Scotland for their support and guidance throughout the process.

 In 2010 the World XVIII team featured one Irish player, Sean O’ Kennedy from Donegal. Ireland.  O'Kennedy perfomed well and had the chance to also train with the Collingwood Football Club in Melbounre. 

This year the lone Irish representative is Muiris Bartley who came to the attention of ARFLI Selectors through his progress with Coláiste an Phiarsaigh and the Leeside Lions. 

According to Corkman.ie "Muiris, has been involved with his local GAA club in juvenile, minor and U21 football until recently, where he showed tremendous promise until a cruciate injury left him sidelined until early this year.

He played in the early round of the U21 c'ship but opted out after that for his own reasons, he is certainly a player of great promise and with his high fielding abilities, he could quite easily make his mark in that code, wishing him all the best and hoping he will enjoy the experience and make the most of his opportunity."

We have learnt the sad news that Sean Wight passed away this morning at the age of 47. Scottish born Wight successfully made the transition from Gaelic football in Ireland to Aussie rules along with Jim Stynes at the Melbourne Football Club.

He was scouted by the Melbourne Football Club's Ron Barassi and Barry Richardson on a visit to Ireland in 1982.  Wight was brought to Australia in 1985 and played 150 games for the club before retiring in 1995.  His successful transition to become a top level backman has its legacy in the current day Irishmen playing with AFL clubs.

Our sympathies to his family. 

 Following is a statement from the Melbourne Football Club.

The 2nd Annual Tri-Nations International Tournament in Fontanafredda, Italy was held last weekend, with host nation Italy defeating Croatia and Switzerland to claim the prize.

The tournament matches were conducted on Sunday June 26th, with the Saturday given over to coaching clinics for local 14 and 15-year-olds.

This report courtesy of the AFL Italia.

In Round 4 of the 2011 Welsh Australian Rules Football League season, the Vale Warriors were once again in fine form as they saw off the Bridgend Eagles at Heol Y Cyw RFC.

Despite winning their first game of their debut season, the Eagles have gone through a bad patch and struggled in front of goal and only managed to score 3 goals throughout the game. The Warriors, however, have been performing strongly and after nearly upsetting the reigning premiers Cardiff Panthers last week, they came into the game brimming with a confidence that saw them score 8 goals, winning 8.16 (64) to 3.8 (26).

With the Swansea Magpies forfeiting against the Cardiff Panthers, the only other game to go ahead this weekend saw the Bristol Dockers made a strong statement of their intent, with a big win away to the Cardiff Double Blues. Despite an attacking strength that has seen them consistently score well, the Double Blues have struggled in the back and conceded 29 goals against the Dockers. The team from across the Severn comfortably won 29.19 (193) to 9.3 (57).

This report courtesy of Joshua Davey, pictures courtesy of Kevin Welch Photography.