South African national Australian rules football team
Encyclopedia
The South African national Australian rules football team (nicknamed the Lions) represent South Africa
in the sport
of Australian rules football
.
The senior side represents the best South African born players as selected from clubs and leagues of AFL South Africa
.
South Africa had its international debut at the 2002 Australian Football International Cup
but the inexperienced team went through the tournament winless. It registered its first international win in the 2005 Australian Football International Cup
against Japan.
Since 2007, through significant development funding and reciprocal tours, South Africa has regularly competed against junior teams from Australia. This resulted in a dramatic improvement at senior level, with South Africa defeating Ireland by a narrow margin to place 3rd overall in the 2008 AFIC.
d the Lion
s, although at the 2002 International Cup
and 2005 International Cup
they were known as the Buffaloes
.
They have worn a different jumper at each International Cup, with the first jumper green with gold and red wings, the second green with a gold yoke, and the current jumper based on the Flag of South Africa
with a stylized Lion.
in Melbourne
, Australia
, finishing in 11th place.
A much improved Buffaloes outfit (reflecting the development of junior footy in South Africa) achieved 8th ranking at the 2005 International Cup.
The Buffalo's best and fairest player (from the 2005 International Cup) is Steven Malinga.
Since 2006, the team has played annually against the "Flying Boomerangs
" under 18 indigenous Australian squad, with tours alternating between South Africa and the Northern Territory
in Australia.
On the 14th of April, 2007, the Buffaloes played a historic match against Australia's AIS
Under 17 squad at North West Cricket Stadium
in Potchefstroom, South Africa
. The team was soundly defeated.
Later in that year, the Buffaloes defeated the touring Australian Convicts
side.
In the warm-up to the 2008 Australian Football International Cup
, South Africa gave a Melbourne based multicultural team organised by the AFL and known as "Team Africa" a football lesson. Surprising many with their skill and pace, they went on to go undefeated through the first 3 pool rounds including a win against the USA and secured a finals berth against the 2005 runners-up Papua New Guinea. However Papua New Guinea were too good for the much improved South Africans.
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in the sport
Sport
A Sport is all forms of physical activity which, through casual or organised participation, aim to use, maintain or improve physical fitness and provide entertainment to participants. Sport may be competitive, where a winner or winners can be identified by objective means, and may require a degree...
of Australian rules football
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...
.
The senior side represents the best South African born players as selected from clubs and leagues of AFL South Africa
AFL South Africa
AFL South Africa is the governing body and development organisation for Australian rules football in South Africa.They manage the South African national Australian rules football team, development leagues and competitions in several provinces as well as junior participation.The body is funded by...
.
South Africa had its international debut at the 2002 Australian Football International Cup
2002 Australian Football International Cup
The 2002 Australian Football International Cup was the inaugural international Australian rules football tournament held in Melbourne, Australia in 2002....
but the inexperienced team went through the tournament winless. It registered its first international win in the 2005 Australian Football International Cup
2005 Australian Football International Cup
The 2005 Australian Football International Cup was the second time that the Australian Football International Cup tournament, an international Australian rules football competition was held....
against Japan.
Since 2007, through significant development funding and reciprocal tours, South Africa has regularly competed against junior teams from Australia. This resulted in a dramatic improvement at senior level, with South Africa defeating Ireland by a narrow margin to place 3rd overall in the 2008 AFIC.
Identity
The team is nicknameNickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
d the Lion
Lion
The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...
s, although at the 2002 International Cup
2002 Australian Football International Cup
The 2002 Australian Football International Cup was the inaugural international Australian rules football tournament held in Melbourne, Australia in 2002....
and 2005 International Cup
2005 Australian Football International Cup
The 2005 Australian Football International Cup was the second time that the Australian Football International Cup tournament, an international Australian rules football competition was held....
they were known as the Buffaloes
African Buffalo
The African buffalo, affalo, nyati, Mbogo or Cape buffalo is a large African bovine. It is not closely related to the slightly larger wild Asian water buffalo, but its ancestry remains unclear...
.
They have worn a different jumper at each International Cup, with the first jumper green with gold and red wings, the second green with a gold yoke, and the current jumper based on the Flag of South Africa
Flag of South Africa
The current flag of the Republic of South Africa was adopted on 27 April 1994, at the beginning of the 1994 general election, to replace the flag that had been used since 1928...
with a stylized Lion.
History
The team competed in the 2002 Australian Football International CupAustralian Football International Cup
The Australian Football International Cup is an international sport competition in Australian rules football...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, finishing in 11th place.
A much improved Buffaloes outfit (reflecting the development of junior footy in South Africa) achieved 8th ranking at the 2005 International Cup.
The Buffalo's best and fairest player (from the 2005 International Cup) is Steven Malinga.
Since 2006, the team has played annually against the "Flying Boomerangs
Flying Boomerangs
The Flying Boomerangs are the underage Indigenous Australian Australian rules football team.The team has played tests against the South African national Australian rules football team in both Australia and South Africa and more recently against an underage Papua New Guinea, the first international...
" under 18 indigenous Australian squad, with tours alternating between South Africa and the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
in Australia.
On the 14th of April, 2007, the Buffaloes played a historic match against Australia's AIS
Australian Institute of Sport
The Australian Institute of Sport is a sports training institution in Australia with world class facilities and support services. The Institute's headquarters is situated in Canberra, the capital city of Australia. The 66.0 hectare site campus is in the northern suburb of Bruce, but some of the...
Under 17 squad at North West Cricket Stadium
North West Cricket Stadium
Senwes Cricket Stadium is a cricket ground in Potchefstroom, North West Province, South Africa. It has hosted one Test match, in 2002. The Highveld Lions also play some home matches here...
in Potchefstroom, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
. The team was soundly defeated.
Later in that year, the Buffaloes defeated the touring Australian Convicts
Australian Convicts
The Australian Convicts are a touring amateur team of Australian rules football players and officials from Australia.The Convicts were formed in 2003 to help promote Australian rules football internationally through playing tour matches against international amateur sides.-Tours:The Convicts have...
side.
In the warm-up to the 2008 Australian Football International Cup
2008 Australian Football International Cup
The 2008 Australian Football International Cup was the third time the Australian Football International Cup, an international Australian rules football competition, has been contested....
, South Africa gave a Melbourne based multicultural team organised by the AFL and known as "Team Africa" a football lesson. Surprising many with their skill and pace, they went on to go undefeated through the first 3 pool rounds including a win against the USA and secured a finals berth against the 2005 runners-up Papua New Guinea. However Papua New Guinea were too good for the much improved South Africans.
International Cup
- New Zealand 25.13 (163) def South Africa 0.1 (1)
- Canada 4.11 (38) def South Africa 1.5 (11)
- Samoa 12.15 (87) def South Africa 1.4 (10)
- Ireland 15.8 (98) def South Africa 3.3 (21)
- USA 20.12 (132) def South Africa 0.4 (4)
International Cup
- USA 9.8 (62) def South Africa 4.10 (34)
- South Africa 4.6 (30) def Japan 4.4 (28)
- Ireland 10.9 (69) def South Africa 1.4 (10)
- South Africa 12.12 (84) def Spain 2.1 (13)
- Samoa 7.8 (50) def South Africa 3.3 (21)
- Canada 3.9 (27) def South Africa 2.6 (18)
2007
- Australia (AIS Youth) 23.24 (162) def South Africa 1.6 (12), North West Cricket StadiumNorth West Cricket StadiumSenwes Cricket Stadium is a cricket ground in Potchefstroom, North West Province, South Africa. It has hosted one Test match, in 2002. The Highveld Lions also play some home matches here...
in Potchefstroom - South Africa def Australian Convicts (by 7 points)
2008
- Flying Boomerangs 19.9 (123) def South Africa 2.11 (23)
- Flying Boomerangs 11.10 (76) def South Africa 8.9 (57)
International Cup
- South Africa 14.19 (103) def Team Africa 3.3 (21) (Practice)
- South Africa 20.26 (146) def China 0.0 (0)
- South Africa 9.11 (65) def Denmark 3.2 (20)
- South Africa 8.10 (58) def USA 5.6 (36)
- Papua New Guinea 9.8 (63) def South Africa 2.3 (15)
- South Africa 4.9 (33) def Ireland 5.2 (32)
2010
- Flying Boomerangs 9.13 (67) def South Africa (Inland Squad) 8.9 (57), Mohadin Cricket Ground, Potchefstroom
- Flying Boomerangs 17.10 (112) def South Africa (Coastal Squad) 5.6 (36), Nyanga Cricket Ground, Cape Town
- Australia (AIS Youth) 26.22 (178) def South Africa 4.5 (29), Cape Town
International Cup
- 20022002 Australian Football International CupThe 2002 Australian Football International Cup was the inaugural international Australian rules football tournament held in Melbourne, Australia in 2002....
: 11th - 20052005 Australian Football International CupThe 2005 Australian Football International Cup was the second time that the Australian Football International Cup tournament, an international Australian rules football competition was held....
: 8th - 20082008 Australian Football International CupThe 2008 Australian Football International Cup was the third time the Australian Football International Cup, an international Australian rules football competition, has been contested....
: 3rd - 20112011 Australian Football International CupThe 2011 Australian Football International Cup is the fourth edition of the Australian Football International Cup, an international Australian rules football competition run by the Australian Football League....
: TBC