Welsh Australian Rules Football League
FormerlyWelsh Australian Football League (Aussie Rules Wales)
SportAustralian rules football
Inaugural season2007
No. of teams4
CountryWales
Most recent
champion(s)
South Cardiff Panthers
Most titlesSouth Cardiff Panthers (3)
Official websitewarfl.org.uk

Australian rules football has been played on an organised basis in Wales since 2007,[1] With the league and representative teams run and managed by the Welsh Australian Rules Football League (WARFL, Welsh: Cynghrair Pêl-droed Rheolau Awstralaidd Cymru) who is the controlling body of the sport in the country. All six senior teams in the WARFL are named after clubs in the South Australian National Football League. Prior to 2007 some clubs played in the BARFL but the rising popularity of Australian Football demanded the creation of a Welsh league.

History

Australian rules football was first played in Wales in 1944 when the 462 Squadron played against the second Sunderland Squadron formed teams based on State of Origin (Victoria vs Western Australia) to play a match at Pembroke Dock.[2][3]

Regular competition in Wales began with the formation of Aussie Rules Wales in September 2006. Thereafter three teams were formed in 2007 being Cardiff Double Blues, South Cardiff Panthers and Swansea Magpies and competed in a 9-a-side format with modified rules in the Welsh division (WAFL) of the ARUK National league. Also the Swindon Devils from England's West Country competed as a guest fourth side. The season concluded with the Swindon Devils defeating South Cardiff by 71 points to win the inaugural (and only) WAFL Premiership.

Aussie Rules Wales then ceased trading in January 2008 and was replaced by the independently run WARFL, which seeks to become the national governing body of the sport in Wales.

The inaugural WARFL Premiership season kicked off in May 2008, with the Cardiff Double Blues, South Cardiff Panthers and Swansea Magpies competing in 9 rounds in 9-a-side format with full AFL rules. The Cardiff Double Blues eventually defeated South Cardiff Panthers by 94 points to win the inaugural 2008 WARFL Premiership. South Cardiff Panthers' David James was awarded best on ground.

In 2009 Gwent Tigers based in Newport joined the league in a 12 round competition with the 9-a-side format unchanged. Also that year the WARFL introduced a pre-season competition known as the Cymru Clwb Cup played at Waunarlwydd RFC in Swansea where the three foundation clubs competed. The Cardiff Double Blues won the tournament winning both of their round robin matches.

At the end of the Premiership South Cardiff Panthers played Swansea Magpies at Llandaff Fields in Cardiff where South Cardiff won by two points to win their first Premiership after being runners up in 2007 and 2008. Swansea Magpies' Matthew Hopkins was awarded best on ground.

2010 saw further expansion of the league with the Vale Warriors based at Barry RFC entering. The second Cymru Clwb Challenge was played at Llandaff Fields with all WARFL clubs playing except for Gwent Tigers who did not field a team due to player unavailability. South Cardiff Panthers won all their matches winning the competition with Cardiff Doubles Blues player Rhys Morgan awarded player of the tournament.

That year the league ran as a 10 round competition with each team playing 8 matches and having 2 byes and continuing in the 9-a-side format. On 24 July the top of the league South Cardiff Panthers played against Swansea Magpies at Barry RFC where South Cardiff won by 71 points to be the first club in WARFL history to win consecutive Premierships. South Cardiff Panthers' ruckman Chris James was awarded best on ground.

The Bridgend Eagles and Bristol Dockers joined the league in 2011 with Gwent Tigers not fielding a team that year.

Players

Pearce Hanley playing for the Gold Coast in 2017
James Gwilt playing for St Kilda in 2009
Jess Hosking playing for Carlton in 2019
Sarah Hosking playing for Richmond in 2021
Welsh AFL and AFLW players

Men's

Currently on an AFL senior list
PlayerClub/sAFL Years*AFL Matches*AFL Goals*Connections to Wales, References
Cian HanleyBrisbane2015-2018--Mother[4]
Pearce HanleyBrisbane Lions FC, Gold Coast FC2008-202016960Mother[5]
James GwiltSt Kilda FC, Essendon FC2005-201615225Father[6][7]
John McCarthyNorth Melbourne FC, Fitzroy FC1986-1996163178Born, Parents[8]

Women's

Currently on an AFLW senior list
PlayerClub/sAFLW Years*AFLW Matches*AFLW Goals*Connections to Wales, References
Darcie DaviesGold Coast2023-91Born.[9] Father represented Wales in rugby union.[10]
Sarah HoskingCarlton, Richmond2017-557Parent[11]
Jess HoskingCarlton, Richmond2017-502Parent[11]

WARFL Clubs

The league is organised in a similar fashion to the SANFL, with the top two teams at the end of the "home and away" season playing off in the Grand Final for the Premiership Cup.

Club Year established SANFL Partner Club Cymru Clwb Cup winners League winners League Premiership winners
Bridgend Eagles2010Woodville-West Torrens Football Club000
Bristol Dockers1991NA01 (2012)0
Cardiff Double Blues2007Sturt Football Club1 (2009)1 (2008)1 (2008)
Gwent Tigers2008Glenelg Football Club000
South Cardiff Panthers2007South Adelaide Football Club4 (2010, 2011, 2012 & 2013)4 (2009, 2010, 2011 & 2013)4 (2009, 2010, 2011 & 2012)
Swansea Magpies2007Port Adelaide Magpies Football Club000
Vale Warriors2009Woodville-West Torrens Football Club000
Vale Vikings 2022
Bath and Wiltshire Redbacks 2007 NA 0 0 0

WARFL League & Grand Final Results

Year League winners Premiers Grand Final venue Grand Final Score
2007Swindon DevilsSwindon DevilsSt Peters RFC, CardiffSwindon Devils 20.8 (128)

South Cardiff Panthers 7.15 (57)

2008Cardiff Double BluesCardiff Double BluesSt Peters RFC, CardiffCardiff Double Blues 18.18 (126)

South Cardiff Panthers 2.20 (32)

2009South Cardiff PanthersSouth Cardiff PanthersLlandaff Fields, CardiffSouth Cardiff Panthers 8.10 (58)

Swansea Magpies 8.8 (56)

2010South Cardiff PanthersSouth Cardiff PanthersBarry RFC, BarrySouth Cardiff Panthers 17.20 (121)

Swansea Magpies 8.3 (51)

2011South Cardiff PanthersSouth Cardiff PanthersPontcanna Pitch, Sport Wales National CentreSouth Cardiff Panthers

Bristol Dockers

2012Bristol DockersSouth Cardiff PanthersDings Crusaders RFCBristol Dockers 6.7 (43)

South Cardiff Panthers 23.23 (161)

2013South Cardiff PanthersSouth Cardiff PanthersPontcanna Pitch, Sport Wales National CentreSouth Cardiff Panthers (0) Chippenham Redbacks (0)
2014 South Cardiff Panthers
2015 Bristol Dockers
2016 South Cardiff Panthers
2017 Bristol Dockers
2018 Bristol Dockers Bristol Dockers 14.14 (98)

South Cardiff Panthers 5.17 (47)

2019 South Cardiff Panthers
2020
2021
2022 South Cardiff Panthers South Cardiff Panthers Llandaff Fields South Cardiff Panthers (96)

Bristol Dockers (30)

WARFL Player Awards

Year Best & Fairest Top Goal Scorer Rookie of the Year
2007Daniel Morgan-Kane

South Cardiff Panthers

Gareth Jones

South Cardiff Panthers

Ed Doe

South Cardiff Panthers

2008David Saunders

Cardiff Double Blues

Tom Judson

Cardiff Double Blues

Gareth Llewellyn

South Cardiff Panthers

2009Rhys Jones

Swansea Magpies

Andrew Atack

South Cardiff Panthers

Gareth Sturge

Cardiff Double Blues

2010David Gamble

South Cardiff Panthers

Leigh Merrington

South Cardiff Panthers

Joshua Davey

South Cardiff Panthers

League and National representative teams

Wales
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Red Dragons
Governing bodyAFL Wales
International Cup
Appearances0

Two representative sides are organised by the WARFL, one to represent the national league which is an all-stars side known as the "WARFL Red Devils" drawn solely from the WARFL regardless of nationality.

The other representative team organised by the WARFL is the Welsh national team known as the "Cymru Red Dragons". The Red Dragons is primarily made up of players from the WARFL, however does include Welsh players from other leagues around the world.

WARFL Red Devils

The Red Devils first played in the 2007 AFL Britain National Championships known as the Brit Cup, representing the first Welsh side in the tournament's history. Thereafter the Red Devils have played in every Brit Cup including the 2010 tournament but 2012 was the year the Brit Cup made Wales its home for next 12 months as the Devils made the Grand Final that year beating the Favourites the Midland Tigers taking top spot and making history. The Red Devils have also appeared at the 2008 "Haggis Cup" the first time a Welsh team had played in Scotland and again in 2009 but did not field a team in 2010.

Cymru Red Dragons

In November 2007, the Red Dragons became the first all-Welsh representative team when they hosted the England Dragonslayers in Cardiff for the "Dragon Cup", England winning by 30 points.

In the second series of the Dragon Cup, the Cymru Red Dragons defeated 2008 EU Cup champions England Dragonslayers in Reading and Newport by 92 points (aggregate score over two tests) to win the Dragon Cup for the first time. However in September 2009 England defeated Wales in Cardiff and London to regain the Dragon Cup.

The inaugural "Bute Series" for the Crichton-Stuart Cup with Scotland Clansmen (which was also Scotland's first ever Australian Rules football international) was played in Glasgow and Cardiff over two tests in October 2009. The Cymru Red Dragons won the series on aggregate of 30 points with Scotland winning the first test and Wales winning at home in Cardiff the following week.

National Team Results

Date Against Nation Tournament Venue Score Series Winner
3 Nov 2007EnglandDragon CupSt Peters RFC, Cardiff, WalesCymru Red Dragons 9.7 (61)

England Dragonslayers 12.19 (91)

England won by 30 points
18 Oct 2008EnglandDragon Cup - 1st TestKings Park, Reading, EnglandEngland Dragonslayers 7.7 (49)

Cymru Red Dragons 11.13 (79)

25 Oct 2008EnglandDragon Cup - 2nd TestTredegar Park, Newport, WalesCymru Red Dragons 15.16 (106)

England Dragonslayers (44)

Wales 2-0
12 Sep 2009EnglandDragon Cup - 1st TestSt Colmcilles GAA, Cardiff, WalesCymru Red Dragons 6.13 (49)

England Dragonslayers 6.18 (54)

19 Sep 2009EnglandDragon Cup - 2nd TestLondon, EnglandEngland Dragonslayers 13.10 (88)

Cymru Red Dragons 3.3 (21)

England 2-0
17 Oct 2009ScotlandBute Series - 1st TestBellahouston Park, Glasgow, ScotlandScotland Clansmen 8.12 (60)

Cymru Red Dragons 7.2 (44)

24 Oct 2009ScotlandBute Series - 2nd TestSt Colmcilles GAA, Cardiff, WalesCymru Red Dragons (66)

Scotland Clansmen (36)

Wales 1-1 (30 points on aggregate)
7 Aug 2010ScotlandBute Series - 1st TestSt Colmcilles GAA, Cardiff, WalesCymru Red Dragons 9.8 (62)

Scotland Clansmen 26.28 (184)

21 Aug 2010ScotlandBute Series - 2nd TestVictoria Park, Glasgow, ScotlandScotland Clansmen 12.11 (83)

Cymru Red Dragons 5.6 (36)

Scotland 2-0
18 Sep 2010EnglandDragon Cup - 1st TestChippenham RFC, EnglandEngland Dragonslayers 6.14 (48)

Cymru Red Dragons 4.12 (36)

26 Sep 2010EnglandDragon Cup - 2nd TestSt Colmcilles GAA, Cardiff, WalesCymru Red Dragons 4.4 (28)

England Dragonslayers 15.12 (102)

England 2-0
2 Oct 2010AustriaEuro Cup - 1st RoundParabiago, Milan, ItalyCymru Red Dragons 5.10 (40)

Austria Kangaroos 0.4 (4)

2 Oct 2010CroatiaEuro Cup - 2nd RoundParabiago, Milan, ItalyCroatia Knights 7.9 (51)

Cymru Red Dragons 4.0 (24)

2 Oct 2010SpainEuro Cup – Plate RoundParabiago, Milan, ItalySpain Bulls 5.1 (31)

Cymru Red Dragons 3.6 (24)

Wales (7th place) Croatia winners
1 Oct 2011Northern IrelandEuro Cup – Plate RoundBelfast, Northern IrelandSpain Bulls (Unknown)

Cymru Red Dragons (Unknown)

Wales (5th place) Ireland winners
Aug 2012EnglandHome Nations CupCardiff, WalesEngland Dragonslayers (Unknown)

Cymru Red Dragons (Unknown)

Wales (2nd place) England winners

Wales Player Awards

Year Best & Fairest Top Goal Scorer Rookie of the Year
2007Tom Case

Swindon Devils

Ed Doe

South Cardiff Panthers

N/A
2008David James

South Cardiff Panthers

Ed Doe

South Cardiff Panthers

N/A
2009David Saunders

South Cardiff Panthers

Gareth Sturge

Cardiff Double Blues

N/A
2010Gareth Griffiths

Vale Warriors

Andrew Atack

South Cardiff Panthers

George Llewellyn

Portsmouth Pirates

Great Britain Bulldogs

As of 2013, 15 players from the WARFL have been selected to represent the Great Britain Bulldogs, these being:

Andrew Atack (Cardiff Panthers), Tim Atkins (Swansea Magpies), David Carpenter (Cardiff Double Blues), Liam Corbett (Cardiff Panthers), Joshua Davey (Cardiff Panthers), Ed Doe (Cardiff Panthers), Tom Gillard (Cardiff Double Blues), Mark Horsman (Cardiff Panthers), Chris James (Cardiff Panthers) David James (Cardiff Panthers), Tom Judson (Cardiff Double Blues), David Saunders (Cardiff Panthers), Gareth Sturge (Cardiff Double Blues), Jon Saunders (South Cardiff Panthers), Owain Ryland (South Cardiff Panthers) & Eliot Rich (South Cardiff Panthers).

See also

References

  1. Eliot Raman Jones. "From New South Wales to South Wales: The rise of Aussie Rules". The Cardiffian. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  2. Australian War Memorial
  3. "Tair camp mewn un!". BBC Cymru Fyw. 26 June 2014. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  4. Hitzman, Grant (11 July 2013). "Queensland clubs celebrate diversity".
  5. Hitzman, Grant (11 July 2013). "Queensland clubs celebrate diversity". AFL Queensland.
  6. "Lucky Jim to join the Saints", The Age, 21 November 2004.
  7. "AFL a diverse world"
  8. "Other Nationalities". Full Points Footy. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011.
  9. "Queensland's 50 best teenage Aussie rules players". Courier Mail. 20 September 2022. Retrieved 21 October 2023.
  10. "Ex-Welsh rugby player's four daughters being hailed as 'superstars' on other side of world". walesonline.co.uk. 10 May 2023. Retrieved 19 October 2023.
  11. 1 2 "2021 AFL Players Association Multicultural Map". AFLPA. Retrieved 5 August 2022.
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