Aussie Rules Europe
Encyclopedia
Aussie Rules Europe was a body created on 8 October, 2005 in London to help promote and develop the sport of Australian rules football
in Europe
. A number of its roles, such as organising the EU Cup
, have now been superseded by the official governing body AFL Europe
, since that body's creation in 2010.
“We, the signatories to this founding document, believe that Aussie Rules is the world’s greatest game. Sharing the same desire – to see Aussie Rules realise its true potential – we have formed Aussie Rules Europe to grow and develop the sport throughout Europe. We will all work together, on and off the field, to make our vision a reality.”
took place in London on 9 October 2005. The EU Cup was played under the rules of 9-a-side football (full contact) on fields conforming to standardised Rugby or Soccer dimensions (approx 100m x 65m). The primary intention of the tournament was to showcase Aussie Rules with a reduction in the number of players, held on sporting fields that are readily found in nearly every corner of Europe; without any loss in the excitement, skill or quality of the 18-a-side version of the game.
The competing teams were Israel, Catalonia, Germany, Belgium, Austria, England, Sweden, Scotland, France and the Netherlands. Belgium defeated Sweden in the grand final.
The second EU Cup took place in Hamburg
, Germany
in 2007, with the 2008 event taking place in Prague
, Czech Republic
. At the 2009 EU Cup in Zagreb
, Croatia
, a meeting was held to formalise the creation of a governing body for the sport in Europe, which lead to the creation of the European Australian Football Association (now AFL Europe) in early 2010.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. A number of its roles, such as organising the EU Cup
EU Cup
thumb|Logo of the 2007 EU CupThe EU Cup is an international Australian rules football tournament played between European national teams. Played under 9-a-side Footy rules, the tournament was first held at Chiswick Rugby Club in London, England in 2005 as an extension of the Central European...
, have now been superseded by the official governing body AFL Europe
AFL Europe
AFL Europe is the regional governing body for Australian Rules Football in Europe. It organises the European Championships in Australian Football and the Euro Cup, as well as the European Legion representative team.-History:...
, since that body's creation in 2010.
History
At a conference held after the 2005 EU Cup, delegates from 13 countries (Austria, Belgium, Catalonia, Croatia, Czech Republic, England, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Scotland, Sweden and The Netherlands) signed the founding document, which states:“We, the signatories to this founding document, believe that Aussie Rules is the world’s greatest game. Sharing the same desire – to see Aussie Rules realise its true potential – we have formed Aussie Rules Europe to grow and develop the sport throughout Europe. We will all work together, on and off the field, to make our vision a reality.”
EU Cup
The inaugural EU CupEU Cup
thumb|Logo of the 2007 EU CupThe EU Cup is an international Australian rules football tournament played between European national teams. Played under 9-a-side Footy rules, the tournament was first held at Chiswick Rugby Club in London, England in 2005 as an extension of the Central European...
took place in London on 9 October 2005. The EU Cup was played under the rules of 9-a-side football (full contact) on fields conforming to standardised Rugby or Soccer dimensions (approx 100m x 65m). The primary intention of the tournament was to showcase Aussie Rules with a reduction in the number of players, held on sporting fields that are readily found in nearly every corner of Europe; without any loss in the excitement, skill or quality of the 18-a-side version of the game.
The competing teams were Israel, Catalonia, Germany, Belgium, Austria, England, Sweden, Scotland, France and the Netherlands. Belgium defeated Sweden in the grand final.
The second EU Cup took place in Hamburg
Hamburg
-History:The first historic name for the city was, according to Claudius Ptolemy's reports, Treva.But the city takes its modern name, Hamburg, from the first permanent building on the site, a castle whose construction was ordered by the Emperor Charlemagne in AD 808...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
in 2007, with the 2008 event taking place in Prague
Prague
Prague is the capital and largest city of the Czech Republic. Situated in the north-west of the country on the Vltava river, the city is home to about 1.3 million people, while its metropolitan area is estimated to have a population of over 2.3 million...
, Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
. At the 2009 EU Cup in Zagreb
Zagreb
Zagreb is the capital and the largest city of the Republic of Croatia. It is in the northwest of the country, along the Sava river, at the southern slopes of the Medvednica mountain. Zagreb lies at an elevation of approximately above sea level. According to the last official census, Zagreb's city...
, Croatia
Croatia
Croatia , officially the Republic of Croatia , is a unitary democratic parliamentary republic in Europe at the crossroads of the Mitteleuropa, the Balkans, and the Mediterranean. Its capital and largest city is Zagreb. The country is divided into 20 counties and the city of Zagreb. Croatia covers ...
, a meeting was held to formalise the creation of a governing body for the sport in Europe, which lead to the creation of the European Australian Football Association (now AFL Europe) in early 2010.