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.

The Glasgow Sharks have set up their own TV channel on YouTube, where they are uploading all their games and some highlights from club functions. Videos from SARFL games as well as the Haggis cup and the Sharks own inter-club league Super-Sixes all uploaded with scores where possible, as not all the game is recorded sometimes.

The Sharks recent fundraising Race Night was the first function to be recorded and highlights are on the channel and seems to be a popular video. The Sharks President said “Sharks TV is helping us get more people interested and involved with the Sharks, and is a good way of letting us know where we need to improve." The YouTube channel is part of “The Sharks are Circling” campaign which is trying to get more people involved in the club and grow the club in Glasgow.

Have a look and watch some of the best footy outside Australia (if not the world!) - YouTube.com/user/GlasgowSharks.

The Australian Rules Football League of Ireland (ARFLI) has revealed that Jeep Ireland has signed up to become its official sponsor for the next three seasons.

The partnership between ARFLI and Jeep will run from 2011 to 2013 and will extend across all Australian Football competitions and development programmes including the Schools' Cup. The Jeep logo will also appear on the national team kit during the AFL Europe annual EuroCup event, which takes place in Belfast on October 8th hosted by ARFLI.

Jeep Ireland's investment in Australian Football in this country is the largest single investment made in the sport and will allow ARFLI to continue to grow participation levels year on year. Announcing the partnership, ARFLI President Ciaran O' Hara said:"We are delighted to have Jeep on board as our major sponsor and partner for the next three years. Jeep's involvement with us will help us establish new development programmes and raise the profile of our domestic competitions, not to mention assisting us in the push to win the EuroCup on home soil later this year. Jeep's partnership, coupled with our recent teamwear sponsorship with Waterford-based Azzurri Sportswear, represents a massive endorsement of our league and we hope that our members, their families and our wider community will support our partners as passionately as they support us."

There is new footy club in Zagreb, with the new Zapruđe AFC (or KAN - Klub Australskog Nogometa - in Croatian) joining the Velika Gorica Bombers, Zaprešić Eagles, Agram Power and Zagreb Hawks clubs in the Croatian capital.

Zapruđe club founder and Croatian Knights stalwart Josip Kravar says that some players from other Zagreb area clubs decided to found their own club in their area of the town. The boys are aiming to build on real community spirit, and in the space of one month have attracted 25 players and have around 50 people watching every session from the sidelines.

Kravar says "This is a product of an idea to encourage progress of footy as in Melbourne, when the sport began long ago by founding the clubs in various part of the town. We are building strong community clubs and planning to start a project in September to pull up the kids from school in Zapruđe and start with school of Australian football.

The Australian Rules Football League of Ireland has reported on some significant historical events throughout its lifespan and today another significant milestone was reached. The first ever ladies match in Ireland was played today at the Boucher road pitches in Belfast between the Kilrea Kookaburras and the Dublin Angels, the Angels running out confident winners 6.5 (41) to the Kilrea Kookaburras 1.2 (8).

From the first bounce it was clear that both sides were giving 110% to the game, Dublin quickly scoring the first two goals and setting a tone with quick feet and hard tackles. Kilrea came back fighting after the first break, as they blocked the momentum Dublin had in the first quarter. but this didn't stop the points hitting the Angels board.

Thanks to Leiha Shrubsall for this report.

The German Black Eagles travelled to Paris last weekend to take on the French Coqs, in the first-ever 18-a-side international for the French national team. The home side battled hard, but struggled against their more experienced opponents, with the Eagles holding the French scoreless in the first quarter.

The second quarter saw the French rally and get their first goal on the board, but by half time the Germans were ahead by 35 points.

From the 3 minute mark of the third term the Eagles were reduced to 17 men on the field, after Daniel Karsch went to hospital with a dislocated shoulder, but in spite of this the Germans again held the French scoreless for the quarter, while they added 6 goals themselves, pulling away to a 74-point lead at the final break.

The last quarter effort from the French allowed them to regain some pride, dominating play and denying the Germans any further score, but inaccuracy in front of goal stopped them from making a bigger impression on the final result, Germany finishing 64-point winners, 13.5 (83) to France's 2.7 (19), in a performance described by Germany's coach Troy Pedder as "a solid effort from the whole squad, with no passengers."

The Vale Warriors made an impressive comeback in their Welsh Australian Rules Football League Round 2 clash against the experienced Cardiff Double Blues. The Barry-based Warriors were unable to put out a team in last week's Round 1 clash against Swansea Magpies but this week pulled off an impressive victory in the capital.

Despite a strong performance from the Double Blues' Tristan Lewis in midfield, Ethan Dicks & rookie Gareth Booker were standouts for Vale as the Warriors won 18.20.128 - 11.15.81 with Stuart Morgan prolific in front of the uprights.

Elsewhere, South Cardiff Panthers continued their impressive start to the season with a 15.23.113 - 2.11.23 victory at home to the Bridgend Eagles whilst the Bristol Dockers recorded their first win of the season, 16.23.119 - 7.13.55 at home to the Swansea Magpies.

Carlton look set to play 21 year old Irishman Zach Tuohy this week against Port Adelaide in Adelaide. Assuming that Setanta O'hAilpin plays, that will make two Irishmen in the one side, although technically Setanta is Fijian-Irish and born in Australia.

Foxsports is reporting that it will be the first time an AFL side has featured more than one Irish player in a game since Jim Stynes and brother Brian played for Melbourne in 1992, they discount fellow Gaelic footballer Sean Wight given he was Scottish.

Tuohy was recruited from Laois in northeastern Ireland and has spent 2010 and 2011 playing for Carlton's VFL feeder club, the Northern Bullants.  He has been elevated from the rookie list.  Countryman O'hAilpin will play his 77th game in this his 7th season (starting from his debut year).