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| 2009 ANZAC Cup to be held in France |
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History will be made on the 26th April 2009 with the first 18-a-side Aussie Rules match to be played on French soil since WWI.
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For many French people, the role Australia played in the first World War may seem pretty small, but there is one village in the north of France that will never forget what the Aussies did for them.
During the first and second battle of the Somme a large number of Australians and New Zealanders died to free the small village of Villers-Bretonneux. The village was almost destroyed during the conflict, and the Australian government helped to rebuild it. Since then the village is closely bonded to Australia, and a big sign in the school courtyard saying “Never forget Australia” is here to remind everyone of what the diggers did.
Every year Villers-Bretonneux host the second biggest ANZAC ceremony behind the one in Gallipoli, involving the Australian ambassador in France, and numbers of other French and Australian officials.
We all know how important ANZAC day is in the footy community, hence the officials of French footy along with Aussie Rules Europe have decided to organise the first 18-a-side game in France since WWI as a part of the 2009 ANZAC day ceremony.
The aim of this event is to raise awareness about footy in France and to celebrate the sacrifice of those Australians who died fighting for someone else's home.
The local government and the Australian embassy in France are supporting the event, and the game will be part of the official ceremony held on the 25th and 26th of April.
The game will see a French side, made of French players and Aussies living in France, playing against a team made of Australian expatriates in Europe and some ADF soldiers.
Due to the fact that there is not a sports field large enough in Villers-Bretonneux, the match will be played in the nearby city of Amiens.
One of the more notable events about this fantastic event will be a junior coaching clinic to be held prior to the match, teaching local children the basics of the Greatest Game in the World, including kicking, marking, bouncing & handballing. They will also get to play in a match. Plus, every child participating in the clinics will recieve their very own Aussie Rules football as well! Hopefully this may lead to schools in France including Aussie Rules as part of their sports program, as is the case in the United Kingdom.
For further details about the match, and to view the schedule for the weekend, visit www.anzaccup.com.
If you are an Australian living in Europe and are interested in playing in this historical event, contact Brian Clarke at info@aussierulesinternational.com
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Posted on Mar 18, 2009 22:23pm by admin
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