Australian Football International Cups

2002 - The tournament was first played in 2002 with 11 nations competing in Melbourne. Ireland defeated Papua New Guinea in the final. The other teams were New Zealand, Denmark, USA, Great Britain, Samoa, Nauru, Canada, Japan, South Africa. Click on the logo at left to access stories and images (note that the first Cup pre-dates World Footy News so we provide a single summary story here).

2005 - The event returned in 2005, again to Melbourne and also the regional town of Wangaratta. 12 countries were expected with Spain the fresh faces, but funding and player availability saw Denmark and Nauru as late withdrawals, reducing the total to 10. Papua New Guinea again made the final, but went down to New Zealand. Click on the logo at left to access stories, images and video.

2008 - The third Cup was held in Melbourne and Warrnambool in Australia in 2008, to coincide with the 150th anniversary of what is widely recognised as the first game of Australian Football (though the roots of this and all codes of football go back much further). 16 teams attended, with Papua New Guinea finally winning the Cup, defeating New Zealand in the Grand Final at the MCG. Click on the logo at left for all the details.