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THE CLUBS
AUSTRALIAN TEAM
IRISH TEAM
THE HISTORY
2006 Cayman Islands Australian International Rules team
(PHOTO: by Nicole Aburrow. FROM: WorldFootyNews.com)
Although there are no organised Australian Rules clubs or competitions in the Cayman Islands, there is a short history of Aussie Rules and International Rules games that have been played since the early 2000's The first is believed to have been in 2004.
These games have occured due to the sizeable number of Australians that play with the Cayman Islands Gaelic Football Club organising matches on ANZAC Day and St.Patricks Day.
The games on St.Patricks day are part of an annual festival which involves a full day of events including Gaelic Football and Hurling, while the ANZAC Day games are set around a traditional Dawn Service and Cricket match. The Aussie Rules match is usually the final event on the day.
The games are played on a Rugby field , using rugby goals and no behind posts. There is also a reduced number of players on the field, usually 10-12 a side with unlimited interchange.
2006 saw the introduction of the International Rules format for the St.Patricks Day celebration.
The first International Rules game was played on 18th March (the day after St.Patricks Day) at the Rugby club at South Sound, and was, from all reports, a very physical affair with punches being thrown, players being sent off, teeth being knocked out and lots of good free flowing and high scoring footy. After the Irish were kept scoreless until half-time (39-0), they came out with all guns blazing in the second half, but the damage had already been done with the Aussies winning. The final score was 54-15.
The game on ANZAC Day was reverted back to Aussie Rules in 2007. No results are available at this stage for that match, or any games since.
There was much talk of creating a local Australian Rules competition after the International Rules match in 2006, but this has not eventuated yet.
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