Countries playing Australian rules football

Note: In order to be recognised as a true national team and not simply expatriates (for the purposes of this entry), the list is subject to International Cup eligibility rules.[1]

Map of the world indicating the nations where Australian rules football was most played in 2009. The stronger regions are indicated in shades of red, areas in which it was most played; areas where the game was unknown or least played are indicated in grey.

Australian Football League has official affiliation agreements with 15 international governing bodies, ARFL Ireland, AFL Canada, Danish Australian Football League, AFL Scotland, AFL England, AFL Wales, AFL Japan, Nauru Australian Football Association, New Zealand AFL, USAFL, AFL South Africa, AFL PNG, AFL Samoa, Tonga Australian Football Association, AFL Germany and AFL Middle East, although it has working relations with leagues and clubs in further countries.

However, while these affiliations are in place, Australia is the only nation that actively engages in this sport at a professional level.

Africa

Countries with established league(s) and non-Australian-based national team:

Country Overview National team Major teams/clubs Governing Body Main league competition(s) Main cup competition(s) Best IC performance
South AfricaOverview[2]Lions (formerly Buffaloes)AFL South AfricaNorth West Province
Gauteng Province
3rd, 2008

Other nations with some history of Australian Rules:

Country Overview National team Major teams/clubs Governing Body Main league competition(s) Main cup competition(s) Best IC performance
KenyaOverview[3]NoneNoneNoneNoneNone
SenegalOverviewNoneNoneNoneNoneNone
ZimbabweOverviewNoneNoneNoneNoneNone

Americas

Countries with established league(s) and non-Australian-based national team:

Country Overview National team Major teams/clubs Governing Body Main league competition(s) Main cup competition(s) Best IC performance
CanadaOverviewNorthwindAFL CanadaOAFL
BCAFL
AFL Quebec
CWAFL
USAFL National Championships6th, 2008
United StatesOverviewRevolutionUSAFLMAAFL
EAFL
NWPAFL
SEAFL
WAFA
USAFL National Championships3rd, 2005

Other countries with some history of Australian Rules:

Country Overview National team Major teams/clubs Governing Body Main league competition(s) Main cup competition(s) Best IC performance
ArgentinaOverviewLos Santos de SantiagoAAFAU
BrazilOverview[4]Carnaval
BermudaOverview[5]Bermuda Lions
ChileOverview[6]Santiago Saints

Asia

Main articles: Australian rules football in Asia and Australian rules football in the Middle East

Countries with an established league(s) and non-Australian-based national team:

Country Overview National team Major teams/clubs Governing Body Main league competition(s) Main cup competition(s) Best IC performance
JapanOverviewSamuraisTokyo GoannasAFL JapanJAFL
Asian Championships
Narita Cup
8th, 2008

Countries with at least one active club and/or national team including Australian players:

Country Overview National team Major teams/clubs Governing Body Main league competition(s) Main cup competition(s) Best IC performance
BruneiOverviewSharksBARFLAsian Championships
ChinaOverviewBeijing Bombers
Shanghai Tigers
Tianjin Normal University
Asian Championships15th, 2008
Hong KongOverviewDragonsAsian Championships
IndiaOverview[7][8][9]AFL India16th, 2008
IndonesiaOverview[10]Jakarta Bintangs
Jakarta Bulldogs
Bali Geckos
Banda Aceh Bandits
Borneo Bears
WeJAFLAsian Championships
Pancawati Cup
Java-Bali Cup
Bali 9s
IsraelOverview[11]Peres Peace Team13th, 2008 (as Peace Team)
LaosOverviewLao Elephants
MalaysiaOverviewWarriorsAsian Championships
PhilippinesOverview[12][13]Philippine EaglesPhilippine EaglesPAFLAsian Championships
PakistanOverview[14][15]DragoonsAFL PakistanSwat
QatarOverviewDohaDubai 9s
SingaporeOverviewSingapore WombatsAsian Championships
ThailandOverviewThailand TigersAsian Championships
United Arab EmiratesOverview[16][17][18]Dubai Dingoes
Dubai Dragons
Dubai Heat
Asian Championships
Dubai 9s
VietnamOverviewHanoi Swans
Saigon Saints
Asian Championships

Countries with some history of Australian Rules and/or a club in development:

Country Overview National team Major teams/clubs Governing Body Main league competition(s) Main cup competition(s) Best IC performance
East TimorOverviewCrocodiles
LebanonOverview[19]Falcons

Europe

+Countries with an established league and/or non-Australian-based national team:

Country Overview National team Major teams/clubs Governing Body Main league competition(s) Main cup competition(s) Best IC performance
AustriaOverviewAvalancheStyrian DownUnderDogs

Vienna Galahs

CEAFL Cup, EU Cup
CataloniaOverviewLFACLFACEU Cup
Czech RepublicOverviewDragonsPrague DragonsCAAFLCAAFL LeagueEU Cup
DenmarkOverviewVikingsFarum CatsDAFLDAFL Premier LeagueDoctor's Cup4th, 2002
CroatiaOverviewKnightsZagreb Hawks, Agram Power, Velika Gorica BombersCAARFCRO LeagueEU Cup
EnglandOverviewDragonslayers
(Form part of the Great Britain Bulldogs for the IC)
AFL BritainAFL London
Southern Division
Central & North West Division
North East Division
Brit Cup
EU Cup
FranceOverview[20]Les BleusAix-Marseille Dockers
Bordeaux Bombers
Montpellier Fire Sharks
Paris Cockerels
Perpignan Tigers
Strasbourg Kangaroos
Toulouse Crocodiles
UFFAUFFA
ARFLF
EU Cup14th, 2011
FinlandOverview[21]Ice BreakersHelsinki Heatseekers
Salo Juggernauts
Espoo Roos
Turku Dockers
Waasa Wombats
FAFLEU Cup14th, 2008
GermanyOverviewBlack EaglesMunich Kangaroos
Frankfurt Redbacks
Rheinland Lions
Hamburg Dockers
Berlin Crocodiles
Stuttgart Emus
AFLGAFLGEU Cup, Tri-Nations
IcelandOverviewRavensBulls
Eagles
Dragons
IceAFLEU Cup
IrelandOverviewWarriorsARFLIARFLI1st, 2002 and 2011
ItalyOverviewAzzurriRoma Blues
Milano Aussie Rulers
Genova Dockers
AFL Italia
MontenegroOverviewSurvivorsAFL Crnu Gora
NetherlandsOverview[22]The Flying DutchmenUtrecht Saints

Eindhoven Eagles
Amsterdam Devils
Den Haag Ooievaars

DAFADAFA PremiershipEU Cup
NorwayOverviewTrollsOslo Crows
Ås Battlers
Tromsø
ScotlandOverviewClansmen
(Form part of the Great Britain Bulldogs for the IC), Sirens
Edinburgh Bloods
Glasgow Sharks
Greater Glasgow Giants
Kingdom Kangaroos
[West Lothian Eagles]]
AFL BritainSARFLHaggis Cup EU Cup
SpainOverviewBullsMadrid Bears
Móstoles Kangaroos
10th, 2005
SwedenOverviewElksAFL SwedenSAFL
SAFF
Tri-Nations8th, 2008
SwitzerlandSteinbocksWinterthur Lions
Basel Dragons
Geneva Jets
AFL Switzerland
United KingdomOverviewBulldogsAFL Britain
WARFL
SARFL
6th, 2002 & 2005
WalesOverviewCymru Red Dragons
(Form part of the Great Britain Bulldogs for the IC)
Cardiff Double Blues
Gwent Tigers
South Cardiff Panthers
Swansea Magpies
Vale Warriors
AFL BritainWARFLDragon Cup

Countries with at least one active club and/or national team including Australian players:

Country Overview National team Major teams/clubs Governing Body Main league competition(s) Main cup competition(s) Best IC performance
BelgiumOverviewBrussels SaintsEU Cup
PolandOverviewPolish DevilsBydgoszcz WildcatsAFL PolskaEU Cup
RussiaOverviewCzarsThe Pirates
The Shooters
Slavyane
St. Petersburg Cats
Lazy Coalas
ФАФРEU Cup
HungaryOverviewCatsBudapest BatsAFL HungaryEU Cup

Other countries with some history of Australian Rules:

Country Overview National team Major teams/clubs Governing Body Main league competition(s) Main cup competition(s) Best IC performance
GeorgiaOverviewOzirulz Georgia

Oceania

Countries with active league(s) and national teams.

Country Overview National team Major teams/clubs Governing Body Main league competition(s) Main cup competition(s) Best IC performance
AustraliaOverviewGalahs All-Australian TeamList of clubsAFLAFL
SANFL
WAFL
VFL
Queensland State
NTFL
Sydney AFL
TSL
O&M MFL
VWFL
SAWFL
SWAFL
WAWFL
ACTWAFL
NTWARFA
AFL Grand Final
NAB Cup
TAC Cup
Ineligible
FijiOverviewTribeNausori Cats
Raiwaqa Bulldogs
Suva City Swans
Suva Lions
AFL FijiAFL Fiji10th, 2014
NauruOverviewChiefsNauru Australian Football AssociationNAFA Senior League
NAFA Junior League
5th, 2008
New ZealandOverviewFalconsAFL New ZealandAuckland AFL
Canterbury AFL
Waikato AFL
Wellington AFL
NPC1st, 2005
Papua New GuineaOverviewMosquitosPNG Rules Football CouncilGoroka
Kimbe
Lae
Mt Hagen
Port Moresby
Rabaul
Eastern Highland
NPC1st, 2008; 2014
SamoaOverviewKangaroosSamoa Australian Rules Football Association5th, 2005
TongaOverviewBlack MarlinsTonga Australian Football Association
VanuatuOverviewAFL Vanuatu

Other countries with some history of Australian Rules:

Country Overview National team Major teams/clubs Governing Body Main league competition(s) Main cup competition(s) Best IC performance
Solomon IslandsOverview

See also

References

  1. AFL and Countries ponder eligibility rules for 2008, by Brett Northey - worldfootynews.com, 23 April 2007
  2. South Africa target 28000 players by 2010, youth Test match confirmed, by Brett Northey - worldfootynews.com, 15 Jan 2007
  3. Footy a welcome hit in Kenya, by Matt Morris - worldfootynews.com, 20 Nov 2004
  4. Santiago Saints headed to Rio for Brazil's first-ever footy match, by Aaron Richard - worldfootynews.com, 9 June 2009
  5. Bermuda 2007 cancelled, by Brett Northey - worldfootynews.com, 16 January 2007
  6. Footy enters Chilean alternative sports scene, by Aaron Richard - worldfootynews.com, 15 Oct 2004
  7. Dixon's world tour to advance the cause, by Brett Northey - worldfootynews.com, 13 Sep 2006
  8. Kickstart to sport from Down Under by Romila Saha for the Calcutta Times 16 November 2006
  9. Indian footy - the 2008 International Cup, Croatian connection and Vegemite Vindaloo, by Ash Nugent - worldfootynews.com, 18 January 2007
  10. Indonesian League does the hard yards alone, by Sean - worldfootynews.com, 28 November 2006
  11. Footy in Israel - From St Kilda to the Dead Sea, by Aaron Richard - worldfootynews.com, 19 January 2005
  12. Aussie Rules gets its start in the Philippines, by Derek Ackary - worldfootynews.com, 15 January 2005
  13. Asian Eagles want to take to the skies again, by Craig Francis - hk-dragons.com, 24 November 2006 Archived 2007-09-28 at the Wayback Machine
  14. College tournament planned for North-West Pakistan, by Aaron Richard - worldfootynews.com, 18 May 2006
  15. Pakistan keen to spread the word, by Ash Nugent - worldfootynews.com, 22 June 2006
  16. Dubai tries to get footy moving in the Middle East, by Ash Nugent - worldfootynews.com, 23 November 2006
  17. "Aussie Rules is gaining momentum in Dubai, by Steve Hill - gulfnews.com, 25 November 2006". Archived from the original on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 28 November 2006.
  18. Dubai 9s preview, by Ash Nugent - worldfootynews.com, 7 Mar 2007
  19. Lebanese Falcons take Flight, by Aaron Richard - worldfootynews.com, 1 Oct 2004
  20. French footy gets on board with Leo Lagrange, by Aaron Richard - worldfootynews.com, 22 November 2006
  21. Finland domestic comp ready to break the ice in 2007, by Aaron Richard - worldfootynews.com, 16 November 2006
  22. Netherlands
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