The GWS Giants have arrived in Prague with master coach Kevin “Sheeds” Sheedy and CEO Dale Holmes landing on Sunday 17th July for 3 days. Kevin is making this special trip thanks to GWS Giants co major partner Skoda whose head office is based in Prague.

“It’s important to the future of this partnership that we can meet with the heads of Skoda and show them the passion and vision we have for the game and importantly the GIANTS and our hopes of turning this partnership into the best and most successful in the AFL” Sheedy said.

Importantly Sheedy feels trips such as this give him an opportunity to share his love for the growth and wider development of the game, particularly in new markets. “I’m excited to see first-hand the brilliant work being done by the local AFL Czech group and the support of AFL Europe” Sheedy continued.

AFL Europe General Manager, Ben MacCormack views the visit as a growing recognition of the opportunities that Europe presents both AFL clubs such as the Giants and the AFL itself. “Commercially Europe offers the AFL brand many opportunities and AFL Europe are continually on the lookout for partners to help promote the growth of the game in Europe” MacCormack said.

The trip will consist of a training night with the AFL Czech Lions, Skoda based events, Czech Ice Hockey training visit with an eye open on finding the first big thing out of the Czech Republic for the AFL.

There are a number of ties between top level Rugby and top level Aussie rules. Coming up to the Rugby World Cup in NZ this year, former Hawthorn player Mick Byrne continues his long involvement with Rugby as a kicking/skills coach with with the All Blacks (and Japan). He has also had stints with the Wallabies as kicking and catching coach when they won the 1999 World Cup and he's also worked with the Brumbies (1998-2001), Springboks (2001-02), Scotland (2002-03) and Saracens prior to his appointment with the NZRU in 2005.

Rugby fans will also be very familiar with England fly half/inside centre Jonny Wilkinson and his elite place kicking and drop goal record. The video below where he answers fan questions reveals that he has connections with Geelong and is a Cats fan. He also has practiced with an Aussie rules footy for some time to hone his kicking skills.

Last weekend, Saturday 2nd July, saw the Brit Cup played for the first time ever in the North of England at Manton Coliery Worksop, with the Nottingham Scorpions lifting the trophy and breaking the 8-year winning streak of the West London Wildcats.

The Brit Cup is the traditional locals-only annual tournament, which has been showing off the best of British footy talent for a number of years.

With the IC2011 taking priority this year (something that was agreed to at the National Conference in November 2010 in Putney), the AFL London are pushing forward their fixture to get their season finished before the the Bulldogs fly out to Australia, and thus could only send up a West London/Wimbledon combined team under the name "London Wild Hawks".

The Wild Hawks were joined by 4 regional rep sides - the Northern Warriors, Southern Saxons, West Midlands Wolves and WARFL Red Devils - and the Nottingham Scorpions, who were eventual champions and the sole stand-alone club side on the day.

Karl Haigh from the Huddersfield Rams was event organizer and also umpired on the day, having stood down this season as Northern Warriors captain, assisted by Rams head coach and last year's Northern Warriors head Coach Neil Morrison, along with long-time English footy identity Andrew Markham who covered much of the umpiring duties and was behind the media and publicity.

This report courtesy of Karl Haigh.

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.