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International rules football (sometimes known as "Inter Rules" or, particularly in Ireland, "Compromise rules") is a hybrid code of football which was developed to facilitate international representative matches between Australian rules footballers and Gaelic footballers. The first games took place 1967, and they have been played annually since 1998. The Irish team is selected by the Gaelic Athletic Association and the Australian team is selected by the Australian Football League.
Compromise Rules
The rules are designed to provide a compromise between those of the two codes, with the Irish being advantaged by the use of a round ball and a rectangular field (Australian rules uses an oval ball and field), while the Australians benefit from the opportunity to tackle between the shoulders and thighs, something banned in Gaelic football. The game uses two large posts and two small posts, as in Australian rules, and a crossbar and goal net as in Gaelic football. This is similar to the format used for both Gaelic football and Hurling until about 100 years ago. Points are scored as follows:
- in the goal net (a goal): 6 points,
- over the crossbar and between the two large posts (an over): 3 points,
- between a large post and a small post (a behind):1 point.
Scores are written so as to clarify how many of each type of score were made as well as, like Australian football, giving the total points score for each team ; for example, if a team scores one goal, four overs and 10 points, the score is written as 1-4-10 (28) - meaning one goal (six points) plus 4 overs (4 * 3 = 12 points) plus 10 points, for a total score of 28 points.
An International Rules match lasts for eighty minutes (divided into four quarters of twenty minutes each). In contrast, Gaelic football matches go for 70 minutes, and Australian rules matches typically go for 120 minutes.
As in Gaelic football, teams consist of fifteen players, including a goalkeeper, whereas eighteen are used in Australian rules (no keeper).
Australia vs Ireland
Senior International Rules games are 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. The series alternates host countries each year between Ireland and Australia. Since the resumption of the senior international series in 1998, the average crowd has been 47,000, 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 who died in 2004 from a heart condition. He also represented Ireland at this level in 2002.
Australia vs Ireland Test Results
Australia is the current holder of the Cormac McAnallen Cup, after winning the 2005 Series in a clean sweep and with an aggregate margin of 57 points. The series took place in Australia, with tests played at Subiaco Oval in Perth (on October 21) and the Telstra Dome in Melbourne (on October 28). Peter MacGrath's Ireland team went into the game as heavy favourites, however Australian coach Kevin Sheedy's policy to handpick fast running players more suited to the hybrid game rather than use the All Australian Team proved a winning move.| Year | Host Country | First Test | Stadium/Location | Crowd | Second Test | Stadium/Location | Crowd | Aggregate Margin | Series Winner |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Australia | AU 2.27.7 (100) def. IE 3.11.13 (64) | Subiaco Oval, Perth | 39,098 | AU 0.18.9 (63) def. IE 0.11.9 (42) | Telstra Dome, Melbourne | 45,428 | AU:163; IE:106 (57) | Australia |
| 2004 | Ireland | IE 3.17.8 (77) def. AU 1.9.8 (41) | Croke Park, Dublin | 46,370 | IE 1.15.4 (55) def. AU 0.12.5 (41) | Croke Park, Dublin | 60,515 | IE:132; AU:82 (50) | Ireland |
| 2003 | Australia | AU 3.10.8 (56) def. IE 1.10.10 (46) | Subiaco Oval, Perth | 41,228 | IE 2.9.9 (48) def. AU 1.10.9 (45) | MCG, Melbourne | 60,235 | AU:101; IE:94 (7) | Australia |
| 2002 | Ireland | AU 2.13.8 (59) def. IE 1.13.8 (53) | Croke Park, Dublin | 44,421 | IE 1.8.12 (42) drew. AU 1.11.3 (42) | Croke Park, Dublin | 71,532 | AU:101; IE:95 (6) | Australia |
| 2001 | Australia | IE 2.13.8 (59) def. AU 1.13.8 (53) | MCG, Melbourne | 48,121 | IE 2.17.8 (71) def. AU 1.13.7 (52) | Football Park, Adelaide | 31,713 | IE:130; AU:105 (25) | Ireland |
| 2000 | Ireland | AU 0.14.13 (55) def. IE 1.11.8 (47) | Croke Park, Dublin | 38,000 | AU 2.15.11 (68) def. IE 1.12.9 (51) | Croke Park, Dublin | 57,289 | AU:123; IE:98 (25) | Australia |
| 1999 | Australia | IE 2.16.10 (70) def. AU 0.15.17 (62) | MCG, Melbourne | 65,000 | AU 2.12.4 (52) drew. IE 1.11.13 (52) | Football Park, Adelaide | 45,000 | IE:123; AU:114 (9) | Ireland |
| 1998 | Ireland | AU 2.3.11 (62) def. IE 2.3.10 (61) | Croke Park, Dublin | 22,000 | IE 4.12.7 (67) def. AU 2.10.14 (56) | Croke Park, Dublin | 35,000 | IE:128; AU:114 (14) | Ireland |
| Year | Host Country | Results | Stadium | Location | Crowd |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov. 17 1990 | Australia | Australia 50 d. Ireland 44 | WACA | Perth | 7,700 |
| Nov. 10 1990 | Australia | Ireland 52 d. Australia 31 | Canberra Stadium | Canberra | 7,000 |
| Nov. 2 1990 | Australia | Ireland 47 d. Australia 38 | Waverley Park | Melbourne | 18,332 |
| Nov. 1 1987 | Ireland | Australia 59 d. Ireland 55 | Croke Park | Dublin | 27,023 |
| Oct. 25 1987 | Ireland | Australia 72 d. Ireland 47 | Croke Park | Dublin | 15,485 |
| Oct. 18 1987 | Ireland | Ireland 53 d. Australia 51 | Croke Park | Dublin | 15,532 |
| Oct. 24 1986 | Australia | Ireland 55 d. Australia 32 | Football Park | Adelaide | 10,000 |
| Oct. 19 1986 | Australia | Ireland 62 d. Australia 46 | Waverley Park | Melbourne | 10,883 |
| Oct. 10 1986 | Australia | Australia 64 d. Ireland 57 | WACA | Perth | 24,000 |
| Oct. 28 1984 | Ireland | Australia 76 d. Ireland 71 | Croke Park | Dublin | 32,318 |
| Oct. 28 1984 | Ireland | Ireland 80 d. Australia 76 | Croke Park | Dublin | 12,500 |
| Oct. 21 1984 | Ireland | Australia 70 d. Ireland 57 | Páirc Uí Chaoimh | Cork | 8,000 |
Future of the Series
The future of the series was brought into doubt through the onfield actions of Australian co-captain Chris Johnson, with high contact against at least 3 Irish players. Many Australian 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. As Johnson's penalties only applied to future International tests and not AFL home and away matches, the AFL and GAA were forced to negotiate suitable penalties for similar future discretions. The harsh reaction of the Irish media and calls amongst various officials threatened to cancel the series. In 2006, following the Under 19 series, the GAA raised the possibility of making it a biennial to reduce cost of travel.Ladies/Women's International Rules Tests to commence
Ladies Gaelic football has been growing almost exponentially in Ireland since the 1970s with over 100,000 women and girls playing in 2006 and figures expected to reach 150,000 by the 2010. Australian rules football has far fewer women players, but numbers have grown strongly since the 1990s. In early 2006 representatives of the Ladies Gaelic Football Association of Ireland and Women's Australian Football Leagues met at a Ladies Gaelic football festival in Singapore and agreed to compete in the hybrid version of the two football codes. Two International Rules Tests have been set for 31st October and 4th November 2006 in Ireland to innaugurate international competition between Australia and Ireland in a women's version of International rules football.International Rules Football Around The World
In addition to the annual senior international series, Australia and Ireland play an under-17 contest (Australia won this series in 2006 *).
International Rules is played in various locations throughout North America and the Caribbean, Europe and Asia, Australia and New Zealand between fledgling Australian Rules Football and Gaelic Football clubs.
In 2006, the AFL international development, seeing the potential of the hybrid code as a breeder for players, announced its intentions to include South Africa as part of an international tri-series in 2010 and played an exhibition match between an Indigenous Australian and South African youth teams at Potchefstroom, South Africa in 2006.
See also
- Australian rules football
- Gaelic football
- Australian International Rules Team
- Ireland international rules football team
External links
- 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.
- International Rules Fan site
- Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA).
- 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
"International rules football"