2005 Official tournament logo

International Rules Football match at the Telstra Dome - Australia vs Ireland. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Melbourne, Australia

The Cormac McAnallen Cup presented to the International Rules Series winners

The International Rules Series is a senior men's competition in International rules football played each October, after the completion of the Australian Football League Grand Final and All-Ireland Football Final which are both played on the last weekend of September. Melbourne ( is the second most populous city in Australia, with a Metropolitan area population of approximately 3 International rules football (Peil na rialacha idirnáisiunta also known as inter rules in Australia and compromise rules in Ireland is a hybrid The Australian Football League (AFL is both the professional Australian national competition in the Sport of Australian Rules Football and its highest The All-Ireland Senior Football Championship is the premier "knockout" competition in the game of Gaelic football played in Ireland.

The Irish team is selected by the Gaelic Athletic Association and the Australian team is selected by the Australian Football League. The Ireland international rules football team is the representative team for Ireland (both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland) in International The Gaelic Athletic Association ( GAA) ( Irish: Cumann Lúthchleas Gael /'kʊmˠən̪ˠ 'l̪ˠuh This article concerns the men's team for information on the Australian women's team see Australia women's international rules football team. The Australian Football League (AFL is both the professional Australian national competition in the Sport of Australian Rules Football and its highest

The series alternates host countries each year between Ireland and Australia. Since the resumption of the senior international series in 1998, the average attendance up to the conclusion of the 2006 series has been 48,199. Ireland has won seven matches, Australia has won five with a further two being drawn.

In 2004, the Series trophy was renamed the Cormac McAnallen Cup, after a Tyrone Gaelic Footballer Cormac McAnallen who died in 2004 from a heart condition. The Tyrone County Board of the Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA (Cummann Luthchleas Gael Coiste Tír Eoghain or Tyrone GAA is one of the 32 county boards of the Cormac McAnallen (– was an Irish sportsman who played Gaelic football for Tyrone and Eglish from County Tyrone, Northern The heart is a muscular organ in all Vertebrates responsible for pumping Blood through the Blood vessels by repeated rhythmic He also represented Ireland at this level in 2002. Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world

Australian tests are sponsored by Foster's, while Irish tests are sponsored by Coca-Cola. Foster's Group is a beer group with interests in Brewing, Wine-making and Soft drinks. The Coca-Cola Company ( is the world's largest beverage company largest manufacturer distributor and marketer of non-alcoholic beverage concentrates and Syrups in the world The logos of the two brands are apparent on each team's uniform (Foster's for Australia and Coca-Cola for Ireland). The competition is run by the AFL and the GAA.

The best player in the Australian side each year is awarded the Jim Stynes Medal.

The test has sold out once in Australia in Perth in 2003, and the first series to sell out was in Ireland in 2006 when a record of 82,127 was set, making the test the largest crowd for an International sports fixture in Ireland.

The tests were indefinitely postponed by the GAA in 2007 following the 2006 International Rules Series, citing a series of violent on-field incidents. The 2006 International Rules series (officially the 2006 Coca-Cola International Rules Series) is the 9th annual International However, the games look set to resume in October 2008, following discussions between the GAA and AFL.

All-time standings (1984-2006)

Country	Series won	Test matches won 1
Australia	7	14
Ireland	6	14

¹ Two draws (second test 1999, second test 2002). This article concerns the men's team for information on the Australian women's team see Australia women's international rules football team. The Ireland international rules football team is the representative team for Ireland (both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland) in International

Test results

Australia is the current holder of the Cormac McAnallen Cup, after winning the 2006 Series with both teams winning a match, but Australia won with an aggregate margin of 30 points. The 2006 International Rules series (officially the 2006 Coca-Cola International Rules Series) is the 9th annual International The series took place in Ireland, with tests played at Pearse Stadium in Galway (on October 28 2006) and Croke Park in Dublin (on November 5 2006). Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Pearse Stadium (Páirc an Phiarsaigh is the principal Gaelic Athletic Association stadium in County Galway, Ireland. Galway (Gaillimh is the only city in the province of Connacht in Ireland. Events 306 - Maxentius is proclaimed Roman Emperor. 312 - Battle of Milvian Bridge: Constantine Croke Park (Páirc an Chrócaigh in Dublin, Ireland is the largest sports Stadium in Ireland (fifth largest in Europe) and the principal stadium Dublin (ˈdʌblɨn/ /ˈdʊblɨn or /ˈdʊbəlɪn/, bˠalʲə aːha klʲiəh or cliə(ɸ is both the largest city and capital of Ireland. Events 1499 - Publication of the Catholicon in Treguier ( Brittany)

*=Sold out / Maximum Capacity

Audience

Television

The International Rules Series has been broadcast on television in Australia and Ireland since the late 1990s. Páirc Uí Chaoimh is a Gaelic Athletic Association Stadium in the Ballintemple area of Cork in Ireland, where major Hurling Cork (Corcaigh is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland 's third most populous city after Dublin and Belfast Television ( TV) is a widely used Telecommunication medium for sending ( Broadcasting) and receiving moving Images, either monochromatic In 2006, it was broadcast by Network Ten (delayed) in Australia and RTÉ Two (live) in Ireland. Network Ten, or Channel Ten, is one of Australia 's three major commercial television networks. RTÉ Two (Irish RTÉ a Dó) (known from 1988 to 2004 as Network 2, RTÉ Network Two, RTÉ2 or N2) is the Republic of Ireland In 2005, it was broadcast by the Nine Network. The Nine Network, or Channel Nine, is an Australian television network based in Willoughby, a suburb on the North Shore of Sydney

Apart from Australia and Ireland, the international focus of the series has seen a growing international audience. From 2005, broadcasting extended its reach to the United States via Setanta Sports North America and in Hong Kong via the Australia Network. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Setanta Sports North America is a television channel launched in 2005 by the Irish sports broadcaster Setanta Sports to offer live and tape-delayed events Hong Kong ( officially the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, is a territory located on China 's south coast on the Pearl River Delta, and borders The Australia Network, originally Australia Television and later ABC Asia Pacific, is a Free-to-air international satellite television service The 2006 series was also broadcast to the United Kingdom on Setanta Sports 2. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located Setanta Sports 1 & 2 are the two main Channels for Setanta Sports in the Republic of Ireland and United Kingdom, carrying coverage of association football (including

Future of the series

The future of the series was brought into doubt through the on-field actions of Australian co-captain Chris Johnson, with high contact against at least 3 Irish players. Christopher Lloyd Johnson (born 30 May 1976 is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. Many Australians raised the argument that the actions of Johnson and other players such as Trent Croad was in response to low contact by the Irish players unaccustomed to tackling. Trent Eric Croad (born 9 March 1980 in New Zealand) is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. As Johnson's penalties applied only to future International tests and not to AFL home and away matches, the AFL and GAA were forced to negotiate suitable penalties for similar future indiscretions. The harsh reaction of the Irish media and calls amongst various officials threatened to cancel the series and labelled the Australian side a bunch of thugs.

Brendan Fevola's assault of an Irish barman which resulted in his being sent home from the Australian tour in the 2006 International Rules Series brought the series into question for the behaviour and laid-back attitude which the professional Australian players have towards the series. Brendan 'Fev' Fevola (born 20 January 1981 is an Australian rules footballer currently playing with the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League The 2006 International Rules series (officially the 2006 Coca-Cola International Rules Series) is the 9th annual International ^[1]

In 2006, following the Under 19 series, the GAA raised the possibility of making it a biennial event to reduce cost of travel.

Also in 2006, the AFL's international development department, with interests in the development of South African talent, announced its intentions to include South Africa as part of an international tri-series in 2010. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa

Following controversies in the 2006 series, the Irish team coach and GAA president again cast doubts on the future of the series. The AFL's chief, however expressed optimism. The GAA stated that it intended to scrap the 2007 series altogether if the AFL did not abide by a set of laws that they intended to set out. Under the new rules, tackling limitations could be imposed by the GAA to minimise incidents such as the tackle laid by Australia's Danyle Pearce that knocked out Irish player Graham Geraghty in the 2006 series. Danyle Pearce (born 7 April 1986 is an Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League. Graham Geraghty is a former Gaelic football player for the Meath senior football team. ^[2]

In December 2006, the GAA decided to abandon the 2007 series.

"On the recommendation of the Management Committee, it was agreed that there would be no Junior or Senior Series of games in 2007. It was agreed that a document would be prepared by the Gaelic Athletic Association, which would put on record the basis of structure, rules, their implementation and penalties on which the future of any Series must be considered. This document will be brought back to Central Council for decision after which it will be forwarded to the AFL for their consideration. If the Gaelic Athletic Association’s terms, as outlined in this document, are acceptable to the AFL, then discussions on the future of the Series could take place. Dessie Farrell, the player’s representative stated that while there would be some disappointment amongst players that the 2007 Series will not take place, the decision was, in his view, probably a wise one. Dessie (Desmond Farrell (Deasún Ó Fearghail is an Irish Gaelic footballer who played for Dublin. "^[3]

Venues

• Croke Park, Dublin
• Páirc Uí Chaoimh, Cork
• Canberra Stadium, Canberra
• AAMI Stadium, Adelaide
• Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
• Telstra Dome, Melbourne
• Subiaco Oval, Perth
• WACA Ground, Perth
• Waverley Park, Melbourne
• Pearse Stadium Galway

References

See also

• Gaelic football
• Australian rules football
• International rules football
• Jim Stynes Medal
• Australian International Rules Team
• Ireland international rules football team

External links

• Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) International Rules Pages. Gaelic football ( Irish: Peil, Peil Ghaelach, or Caid) commonly referred to as " football " is a form of Football Australian (rules football, or simply known as football, footy or Aussie rules, is a Team sport played between two teams of 18 players International rules football (Peil na rialacha idirnáisiunta also known as inter rules in Australia and compromise rules in Ireland is a hybrid This article concerns the men's team for information on the Australian women's team see Australia women's international rules football team. The Ireland international rules football team is the representative team for Ireland (both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland) in International
• Australian Football League (AFL) International Rules Pages.
• WFN International Rules. - catalogues some of the scores of games in this new code around the world.
• Laws of the Game
• Aussie Rules International International Rules page.
• Setanta sports GAA webcasts. Viewing information for Australia v Ireland International Rules Tests when series is on in October/November.
• International Rules News Fixtures and Results from Sports.ie
• Ireland stage late comeback to win 1st Test in the 2006 IR Series
• Video of Rough play during the 2005 series from YouTube