8th April, 2006
Aussie Rules makes its mark in Reading - the first Trans-Atlantic Challenge
by Adam Bennett

You might be forgiven if you looked across King's Meadow last Saturday and wondered what was going on, with large groups of men kicking an oval ball around in a seemingly random manner. In fact, this was the inaugural Australian Rules Football Trans-Atlantic Challenge Cup, hosted by the IX Europe Reading Kangaroos.

The Roo's were joined by the Atlanta Kookaburras, the Copenhagan Barracudas and the West London Wildcats, battling it out on the traditional oval pitches for the coveted title. After a hard day's play, the trophy was eventually lifted by the Wildcats, with Reading narrowly beating Copenhagan with the last kick of the game to take second spot. Competing fiercely through the jet-lag, the Atlanta team will look to improve on the wooden spoon position when the teams meet again in Bermuda next April. (www.bermudafooty.com)

Whilst only played professionally in Australia, the sport is gaining a huge following throughout the world. With similarities to soccer, Gaelic football and rugby, the game is fast, skillful and attracts people from a wide variety of previous sporting experience. With fewer stoppages and no offside rule, it's easy to see why it's taking off here.

"After 20 years of football and rugby, it's incredible to find a sport like this, which grips your interest, teaches you new skills and is so much fun!", said Adam Bennett, Club President of the Kangaroos.

The leagues within the UK are run by the British Australian Rules Football League (www.barfl.co.uk). Junior development of the game is being run by Aussie Rules UK (www.aussierulesuk.com), which has "….been set up to introduce Australian football into the UK school curriculum. It's been a great success", said Brian Clarke, umpiring matches on the day.