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Norway |
This page is a quick snapshot of the status of Australian Football in Norway. For further information, browse our news items or use the search facility. If you wish to contact football officials from the country, please search our site for links to their leagues or clubs, including in our Atlas. If unsuccessful, we can normally assist with putting people in touch.
Approx population (2009): 4.8 million
National side: Norway Polar Bears
Governing body: Under formation
Clubs:
Oslo Trolls
Ås Battlers
Tromsø
Primary contact / link: Oslo Crows
WFN Census (2004): N/A (first game 2008)
WFN World Ranking (2008): N/A
History: The Oslo Trolls formed in 2005 as Norway's first Australian rules football club, but didn't play their first match until hosting the Karlstad Dragons from Sweden in August 2008. Prior to this, players from the Trolls had travelled to western Sweden to play in club matches with the teams in Karlstad and Gothenburg.
The second club to form in the Oslo area were founded in early 2009 in the town of Ås. This club is nicknamed the Ås Battlers, after the Australian expression Aussie battler, due to the name of the town sounding similar to the first syllable of Aussie. The Oslo Trolls and Ås Battlers played their first match against each other in August 2009.
In May 2009, a group started playing social matches in the far northern city of Tromsø. This club is currently the most northerly Australian rules team in the world.
The Norway Polar Bears (Isbjørnene in Norwegian) made their first test match appearance against Sweden in Karlstad, Sweden on October 3rd, 2009. The side involved players from all three Australian football clubs in Norway, with around 50% local-born players, the Norwegian side defeating Sweden on the day.
Outlook (2010): The Trolls and Battlers are expected to kick off an Oslo regional series in 2010, with potential for a third or fourth team in the area as well.
Other points of interest: Tromsø, above the Arctic circle, is currently home to the world's most northerly Australian rules football club. This record is unlikely to be broken any time soon, as there are almost no sizable settlements further north than Tromsø anywhere in the world.
Last Updated: Sunday, February 28 2010 @ 06:21 pm ACDT| Hits: 4,738