Alban Schieber is known to many for his work with the Bordeaux Bombers and the CNFA, most recently at the last Euro Cup in France. He takes some time out to tell us a bit about his Australian Rules football journey.

“I found about Aussie Rules when i came to Australia for a Rotary Student Exchange in 2005-2006. At the time, i wanted to continue to play Rugby. However, in Mount Gambier there were no rugby clubs, and nobody even knew about it. Without speaking a word of English, i went with a few boys to North Gambier training and started to play without understanding any rules. One year later I was addicted to the sport and couldn’t stop thinking about it. Definitively, one of the best sports I had the chance to try and play.”

“Most of the team met in Toulouse on August 1st to take the plane together, however I had to go to China for work so i stopped on the way in Shanghai. Then we all met in St Kilda on the 3rd of August to train together for a week. The trip was quite easy and the jetlag was quickly absorbed.”

 

The Irish Warriors dream of claiming back to back International Cup titles remains on track as they fought off a skilful South African Lions outfit to set up a grand final re-match with Papua New Guinea. Despite failing to register a score in the opening period the Warriors took control, nullifying the South African’s running game in the second half winning by 25 points.

The game started at a frantic pace with both sides nullifying the other through disciplined defence. The Irish were finding it difficult to find their tall forward targets with Padraig Lucey and Mick Finn being doubled teamed when on the lead. The Warriors suffered a blow with ruckman Paul O’Halloran being forced off with a shin injury as two behinds to South Africa saw them take a slender advantage into the first break.

     

 
 

Running around the ovals of Royal Park is one Alexa Blatnick, proudly wearing the number 1 jersey for the USA Freedom. Whilst not the captain of the team, Alexa is still an integral part of the squad that is currently in Melbourne at the International Cup. Here she shares her Aussie Rules story.

“I was running around McKinley Park in Sacramento, California, on a Tuesday evening. I saw the Sacramento Footy club playing Ausball which is a co-ed tag league. I started playing that and then they coaxed me into trying the full contact version of the game.”

“I started last August, so I've only been playing for a little over a year. I'm still a newbie! I am always learning and picking people's brains about the game. I play for my club team, the Sacramento Lady Suns back home.”

Ireland held off South Africa for their chance to go back to back as International Cup champions. In the end Ireland defeated the plucky South Africans by 25 points to earn their spot in the Grand Final at the MCG on Saturday.

PNG dominated NZ from start to finish to win their semi-final match against the Hawks. The final margin was 47 points after PNG lead by just 19 points at three quarter time. Amua Pirika kicked three goals for the match while John Ikipu was best on ground with a dominating ruck performance and kicking two goals of his own.  PNG are through to their 5th International Cup from 5 starts.  So far they are 1 from 4.

Many thought NZ were favourites to take out IC14 going into this match. Their development setup has delivered a great deal of talent in recent years coming through from teens to adults. Add that to regular representative matches against Academy and rep teams such as the VAFA and it is a very solid base of experienced footy they have under their belt. They also have looked improved in the lead up matches to today’s semi-final. And PNG while also having a long running junior development system that delivers plenty of talent, they were upset in their previous match losing narrowly to South Africa. They only just managed to get into the semi finals by having the best percentage of the teams on 2 wins, 1 loss.

The #11 on the wing for Fiji Tribe, Filipe Valesu is a more than handy running 6 footer who covers a lot of territory and has a pretty good leap on him - as displayed in his round 3 speccie beside the goal post (and subsequent goal) in the third quarter at Bulleen on Saturday against the Great Britain Bulldogs.

In Division 2 today Sweden defeated Indonesia by 28 points after leading by just fifteen points at three quarter time.

Martensson and Magnusson lead the way for Sweden kicking 3 and 2 goals respectively, while for Indonesia Prajoso kicked two.

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(as the round was spread over many venues we have a limited photo set)