Ireland’s Kevin Feely wins the ball ahead of teammate Niall Grimley against Australia’s Nat Fyfe and Rory Laird during the Virgin Australia International Rules Series 2nd test at the Domain Stadium in Perth, Australia in 2017. Photo: Ray McManus/Sportsfile
There is speculation in Australia that the International Rules Series against Ireland could return.
According to media reports the AFL are interested in reviving the series which was last contested in 2017.
The Covid pandemic delayed the return of the hybrid game.
Herald Sun journalist Glenn McFarlane told Fox Footy’s Midweek Tackle programme “The AFL is open to reviving the International Rules series. There (have) been a few issues with the GAA, there’s not been a lot of discussion and conversation.
“Now, it’s still a fair way off, but the AFL is definitely open to having a chat to the GAA and potentially setting that up (a new series) for some time down the track,” according to McFarlane.
The series, which has had a chequered history, began in 1984.
McFarlane suggested there might be a women’s series as well which would make commercial sense given that more than 30 Irish women play in the professional AFLW at the moment.
The men’s series is level at 10 wins each. Ireland have won 21 individual tests to Australia’s 19, with two drawn tests in 1999 and 2002.
Staging the series every four years, like the Olympics, is one idea which might be explored if negotiations do resume between the AFL and the GAA.
