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International Rules series to return in 2020
Croke Park stadium in Dublin.

The International Rules series, between the AFL and GAA, is set to return in 2020, the first time since 2017.

The two sides agreed to the next series of hybrid games between Australia and Ireland, with provisional dates being Sunday, November 15 and Saturday, November 21, with the games being played in Ireland, according to afl.com.au

The November 21 game coincides with the 100th anniversary of Bloody Sunday, when 32 people were killed or fatally wounded and hundreds more injured at Croke Park stadium in Dublin, when British soldiers opened fire on the crowd attending a football match.

The location of the 2020 games has yet to be confirmed. The series will then be held in Australia after the 2022 AFL season finishes.

GAA Director General Tom Ryan said: “We are pleased to announce the return of the International Rules Series in 2020 and look forward to re-connecting with our friends and colleagues in the AFL, both on and off the field.

“The series offers our players the chance to wear the green jersey and represent Ireland and it also provides them with an opportunity to pit themselves against the best from another code while showcasing the best skills of Gaelic football,” he added.

Australia reclaimed the Cormac McAnallen Cup in 2017, winning both games, held in Perth and Adelaide.

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Lions pay tribute at Australian War Memorial

A delegation from the British & Irish Lions visited the Australian War Memorial to pay their respects and recognise the fallen from Britain and Australia yesterday.

From a rugby perspective, a tribute was paid to Blair Swannell and Tom Richards, who represented both the British Isles and Australia during their rugby careers.

Blair Swannell was English-born and played international rugby for the British Isles (as the British and Irish Lions team was then called) on their 1899 tour of Australia and 1904 tour of Australia and New Zealand. After settling in Australia, he played a single game for the Australian national team. He died in 1915 serving the Australian Imperial Force during the First World War.

Thomas Richards was born in Australia to a family who had emigrated from Cornwall. He grew up in the gold mining town of  Charters Towers in Northern Queensland. He too played rugby for both Australia and the British Isles and fought in the First World War. The Tom Richards Trophy, the trophy that is played for between Australia and the British and Irish Lions,  is named in his honour.  

A British & Irish Lions delegation visiting the Australian War Memorial yesterday, from left, Rory Best from Ireland, Scotland's Richie Gray, Lions Captain Sam Warburton from Wales and England's Tom Croft.
A British & Irish Lions delegation visiting the Australian War Memorial yesterday, from left, Rory Best from Ireland, Scotland’s Richie Gray, Lions Captain Sam Warburton from Wales and England’s Tom Croft.

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I did nothing!

I did nothing!

Irish Queenslander is proud to announce that my photo is the state winner for Queensland in the taxback.com GAA photo competition, on behalf of the Brisbane Shamrocks GFC. The prize is an event for the club to either watch a Lions game together or can be used as part of an existing club event/fundraiser. Very glad to be supporting Gaelic Games in Queensland, on their 40th anniversary year.