International Rules Series

International Rules Series

Sport	International rules football
Founded	1967 (Australian Football World Tour)
Inaugural season	1984
No. of teams	2
Country(ies)	Australia Ireland
Continent	Australia Europe
Most recent champion(s)	Ireland (8th title)
Most titles	Australia Ireland (8 titles each)
TV partner(s)	Network Ten (Australia) TG4 (Ireland)

An International rules football match at Docklands Stadium - 2005

The International Rules Series is a senior men's International rules football competition between the Australia international rules football team (selected by the Australian Football League) and the Ireland international rules football team (selected by the Gaelic Athletic Association). The series is played twice every three years in October and November after the completion of the AFL Grand Final and the All-Ireland Football Final which are both traditionally played in late September. The matches are played using a set of compromise rules decided upon by both the two governing bodies; known formally as International rules football. While the International Rules Series matches use some rules from Australian rules football, the field, ball and uniforms of both teams are all from Gaelic football.

The two teams contest a trophy, which in 2004 was named the Cormac McAnallen Cup, after a Tyrone Gaelic footballer, Cormac McAnallen, who died that year from a heart condition after representing Ireland in the previous three series.

The concept for the series originates from the Australian Football World Tour, which took place in 1967. The first series took place in Ireland in 1984 under a three match format, whereby the team accumulating the most wins from the series gained victory. Following poor Australian crowds and relative lack of interest in 1990, the series was revived in 1998 under a two match aggregate points format.

The series alternates host countries each appropriate year between Ireland and Australia. Since the commencement of the modern era series in 1998, the average attendance up to the conclusion of the 2010 series was 47,160. Only once has any test sold out in Australia, in Perth in 2003. The first entire series to sell out was in Ireland in 2006 when a combined record crowd of 112,127 was set, as well as the largest international sports fixture at Croke Park for the second test.

The tests were indefinitely postponed by the GAA in 2007 following the 2006 Series, citing a series of violent onfield incidents. However, the series resumed in October 2008 in Australia, after the GAA and AFL reached collective agreement on a revised set of rules. It has since been held in 2010 in Ireland and in 2011 in Australia.

All-time standings

Note: includes statistics from 1984 (fully updated post 2011 series)

The Cormac McAnallen Cup presented to the International Rules Series winners

Country	Series won	Test matches won 1	Points scored
Ireland	8	18	1,993
Australia	8	16	1,941

¹ Two draws (second Test 1999, second Test 2002).

Records

• Biggest series win (1998-2011): 65 points, 2011, Australia 65–130 Ireland
• Biggest test win (1998-2011): 44 points, first test 2011, Australia 36-80 Ireland
• Closest series (1998-2011): 5 points, 2008, Australia 97–102 Ireland
• Highest-scoring test (1998-2011): 164 points, first test 2005, Australia 100–64 Ireland
• Lowest-scoring test (1998-2011): 84 points, second test 2002, Ireland 42–42 Australia
• Highest attendance (1998-2011): 82,127, Croke Park, second test 2006
• Highest attendance (1984-1990): 32,318, Croke Park, third test 1984
• Lowest attendance (1998-2011): 12,545, Metricon Stadium, second test 2011
• Lowest attendance (1984-1990): 7,000, Bruce Stadium, second test 1990
• Average attendance (1998-2010): 47,160
• Average attendance (1984-2010): 35,245

Series results

Scores are given in the form [goals]–[overs]–[behinds] ([points]). A goal equals 6 points, an over, 3, and a behind, 1. So 2–9–10 (49) means 2 goals, 9 overs and 10 behinds; 2(6) + 9(3) + 10(1) = 12 + 27 + 10 = 49 points in total.

Tests (1998-2011)

Year	Host country	First test	Venue	Att.	Second test	Venue	Att.	Total	Series winner
2011	Australia	Ireland 4–17–5 (80) Australia 1–8–6 (36)	Etihad Stadium, Melbourne	22,921	Ireland 1–13–5 (50) Australia 0–7–8 (29)	Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast	12,545	130 65	Ireland
2010	Ireland	Australia 0–14–5 (47) Ireland 1–8–10 (40)	Gaelic Grounds, Limerick	30,117	Australia 0–14–13 (55) Ireland 1–11–13 (52)	Croke Park, Dublin	61,842	102 92	Australia
2008	Australia	Ireland 3–6–9 (45) Australia 0–12–8 (44)	Subiaco Oval, Perth	35,153	Ireland 4–8–9 (57) Australia 3–8–11 (53)	MCG, Melbourne	42,823	102 97	Ireland
2006	Ireland	Ireland 1–12–6 (48) Australia 1–9–7 (40)	Pearse Stadium, Galway	35,000*	Australia 3–15–6 (69) Ireland 0–7–10 (31)	Croke Park, Dublin	82,127*	109 79	Australia
2005	Australia	Australia 2–27–7 (100) Ireland 3–11–13 (64)	Subiaco Oval, Perth	39,098	Australia 0–18–9 (63) Ireland 0–11–9 (42)	Telstra Dome, Melbourne	45,428	163 106	Australia
2004	Ireland	Ireland 3–17–8 (77) Australia 1–9–8 (41)	Croke Park, Dublin	46,370	Ireland 1–15–4 (55) Australia 0–12–5 (41)	Croke Park, Dublin	60,515	132 82	Ireland
2003	Australia	Australia 3–10–8 (56) Ireland 1–10–10 (46)	Subiaco Oval, Perth	41,228*	Ireland 2–9–9 (48) Australia 1–10–9 (45)	MCG, Melbourne	60,235	101 94	Australia
2002	Ireland	Australia 2–13–8 (59) Ireland 1–13–8 (53)	Croke Park, Dublin	44,421	Draw: Ireland 1–8–12 (42) Australia 1–11–3 (42)	Croke Park, Dublin	71,532	101 95	Australia
2001	Australia	Ireland 2–13–8 (59) Australia 1–13–8 (53)	MCG, Melbourne	48,121	Ireland 2–17–8 (71) Australia 1–13–7 (52)	Football Park, Adelaide	31,713	130 105	Ireland
2000	Ireland	Australia 0–14–13 (55) Ireland 1–11–8 (47)	Croke Park, Dublin	38,000	Australia 2–15–11 (68) Ireland 1–12–9 (51)	Croke Park, Dublin	57,289	123 98	Australia
1999	Australia	Ireland 2–16–10 (70) Australia 0–15–17 (62)	MCG, Melbourne	64,326	Draw: Australia 2–12–4 (52) Ireland 1–11–13 (52)	Football Park, Adelaide	45,187	122 114	Ireland
1998	Ireland	Australia 2–12–14 (62) Ireland 2–12–13 (61)	Croke Park, Dublin	22,000	Ireland 4–12–7 (67) Australia 2–10–14 (56)	Croke Park, Dublin	35,000	128 118	Ireland

Tests (1984-1990)

Year	Host country	First test	Venue	Att.	Second test	Venue	Att.	Third test	Venue	Att.	Series winner
1990	Australia	Ireland 0-12-11 (47) Australia 0-10-8 (38)	VFL Park	18,332	Ireland 3-9-7 (52) Australia 0-7-10 (31)	Bruce Stadium	7,000	Australia 0-13-11 (50) Ireland 0-12-8 (44)	WACA Ground	7,770	Ireland
1987	Ireland	Ireland 3-7-14 (53) Australia 1-11-12 (51)	Croke Park	15,532	Australia 3-14-12 (72) Ireland 3-6-11 (47)	Croke Park	15,485	Australia 0-14-17 (59) Ireland 1-13-10 (55)	Croke Park	27,023	Australia
1986	Australia	Australia 1-14-16 (64) Ireland 5-5-12 (57)	WACA Ground	25,000	Ireland 3-10-14 (62) Australia 1-10-10 (46)	VFL Park	10,883	Ireland 4-8-7 (55) Australia 0-7-11 (32)	Football Park	10,000 (est.)	Ireland
1984	Ireland	Australia 2-15-13 (70) Ireland 4-8-9 (57)	Páirc Uí Chaoimh	8,000	Ireland 3-18-8 (80) Australia 1-18-16 (76)	Croke Park	12,500	Australia 1-18-16 (76) Ireland 5-11-8 (71)	Croke Park	32,318	Australia

*=Sold out / Maximum Capacity

Player awards

Jim Stynes Medal

The Jim Stynes Medal is awarded to the best player of the Australian team for each series. It was first awarded in 1998 and named after Jim Stynes, the former Gaelic footballer who went on to win the Brownlow Medal, the highest individual award in Australian rules football.

• 1998 – Stephen Silvagni (Carlton)
• 1999 – Jason Akermanis (Brisbane)
• 2000 – James Hird (Essendon)
• 2001 – Matthew Lloyd (Essendon)
• 2002 – Andrew Kellaway (Richmond)
• 2003 – Brent Harvey (North Melbourne)
• 2004 – Nathan Brown (Richmond)
• 2005 – Andrew McLeod (Adelaide)
• 2006 – Ryan O'Keefe (Sydney)
• 2008 – Kade Simpson (Carlton)
• 2010 – Dane Swan (Collingwood)
• 2011 – James Kelly (Geelong)

GAA Medal

The GAA Medal (also known as the Irish player of the series) is awarded in similar circumstances to the Australian award, whereby the Irish player adjudged as the best performed from each series wins the medal. It has been awarded since 2008.

• 2008 - Graham Canty (Cork)
• 2010 - Colm Begley (Laois)
• 2011 - Tadgh Kennelly (Kerry/Sydney Swans)

Harry Beitzel Medal

The Harry Beitzel Medal was awarded to players adjudged "fairest and best" on the field during the 1984 to 1990 series. Beitzel was honoured for his pioneering of the sport and the fact that he arranged the first ever official contact between the two sports of Gaelic and Australian rules football.

• 1984 - Jimmy Kerrigan (Ireland)
• 1986 - Robert Dipierdomenico (Australia)
• 1987 - Tony McGuinness (Australia)
• 1990 - Jack O'Shea (Ireland)

Sponsorship

The Australian team were sponsored until 2006 by Foster's, which also sponsored series held in Australia. Toyota took over both roles for the 2008 series. Australian plastic manufacturer Nylex sponsored the Australian team in 2010, whilst Toyota and Carlton Draught were guernsey sponsors for the 2011 series.

The Irish team, and all series held in Ireland, were sponsored by Coca-Cola until 2008. The 2010 series in Ireland was sponsored by the Irish Daily Mail, while Irish language television station TG4 sponsored the Irish team (both in 2010 and 2011).

Audience

Television

The International Rules Series has been broadcast on television in Australia and Ireland since the late 1990s. In Ireland it has usually been broadcast on RTÉ Two, though the 2010 and 2011 series was broadcast live by Gaelic-language channel TG4. In Australia, the 2005 series was broadcast by the Nine Network and the 2008 series by the Seven Network, while Network Ten offered delayed coverage of the 2006 series. The Seven Network again provided Australian coverage for the 2010 series, while Network Ten again broadcast the 2011 series.

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 to Hong Kong via the Australia Network. The 2006 series was also broadcast to the United Kingdom via Setanta Sports 2.

Criticisms

The series has a number of high-profile critics. Three-time All-Ireland winning Tyrone manager Mickey Harte has continually called for a cessation to the game. He said in 2008 that the tours to Australia are in essence just a free holiday for the players involved, before repeating the claim in 2011 and calling on the GAA to withdraw from the Series as it does a "total disservice to the development of Gaelic games on the international stage". Similarly, Australian journalists such as Mike Sheahan have argued that the relevance of the series is diminished on account of the Australian team no longer being made up primarily of All-Australian players.

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 three Irish players.

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.

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...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."

Talks between the two organisations resumed in 2007 and the 2008 Series went ahead without incident. Since that, despite an Australian withdrawal from the 2009 Series due to "economic concerns", the Series appeared to have a strong future. Yet following the 2011 Series, concerns were raised over extremely small crowd attendances. The small crowds were blamed on a lack of high-profile AFL players being selected in the Australian team and a longer AFL season. Again, the series' temporary future was assured by GAA director general Paraic Duffy, and will return in 2013 (Ireland) and 2014 (Australia).

Venues

• AAMI Stadium, Adelaide, South Australia
• Canberra Stadium, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
• Carrara Stadium, Gold Coast, Queensland
• Croke Park, Dublin
• Docklands Stadium, Melbourne, Victoria
• Gaelic Grounds, Limerick
• Pairc Ui Chaoimh, Cork
• Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, Victoria
• Pearse Stadium, Galway
• Subiaco Oval, Perth, Western Australia
• WACA Ground, Perth, Western Australia

See also

• Australian rules football
• Gaelic football
• International rules football
• Australian international rules football team
• Ireland international rules football team

External links

• Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) International Rules pages
• Australian Football League (AFL) International Rules pages
• WFN International Rules – News and historical information section regarding the sport
• Laws of the Game
• Aussie Rules International International Rules page.
• Footage of first test of 2010 series from YouTube
• Australia v Ireland since 1967 - Complete series results and news archive of every test match
• Tarik's International Rules Football - Series results from 1998-2008
• Hogan Stand International Rules section - IRS news section from Irish GAA website