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.

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]

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, AFL New Zealand, 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 Africa 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
Botswana BotswanaOverview[3]NoneNoneNoneNoneNone
Ghana GhanaOverview[4]NoneNoneNoneNoneNone
Kenya KenyaOverview[5]NoneNoneNoneNoneNone
Senegal SenegalOverviewNoneNoneNoneNoneNone
Uganda UgandaOverview[6]NoneNoneNoneNoneNone
Western Sahara Western SaharaOverview[7]NoneNoneNoneNoneNone
Zimbabwe 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
Canada CanadaOverviewNorthwindAFL CanadaOAFL
BCAFL
AFL Quebec
CWAFL
USAFL National Championships6th, 2008
United States 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
Argentina ArgentinaOverviewLos Santos de SantiagoAAFAU
Brazil BrazilOverview[8]Carnaval
Bermuda BermudaOverview[9]Bermuda Lions
Cayman Islands Cayman IslandsOverview[10]NoneNoneNoneNoneNone
Chile ChileOverview[11]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
Japan 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
Brunei BruneiOverviewSharksBARFLAsian Championships
China ChinaOverviewBeijing Bombers
Shanghai Tigers
Tianjin Normal University
Asian Championships15th, 2008
Hong Kong Hong KongOverviewDragonsAsian Championships
India IndiaOverview[12][13][14]AFL India16th, 2008
Indonesia IndonesiaOverview[15]Jakarta Bintangs
Jakarta Bulldogs
Bali Geckos
Banda Aceh Bandits
Borneo Bears
WeJAFLAsian Championships
Pancawati Cup
Java-Bali Cup
Bali 9s
Israel IsraelOverview[16]Peres Peace Team13th, 2008 (as Peace Team)
Laos LaosOverviewLao Elephants
Malaysia MalaysiaOverviewWarriorsAsian Championships
Pakistan PakistanOverview[17][18]DragoonsAFL PakistanSwat
Philippines PhilippinesOverview[19][20]Philippine EaglesPhilippine EaglesPAFLAsian Championships
Qatar QatarOverviewDohaDubai 9s
Singapore SingaporeOverviewSingapore WombatsAsian Championships
Thailand ThailandOverviewThailand TigersAsian Championships
United Arab Emirates United Arab EmiratesOverview[21][22][23]Dubai Dingoes
Dubai Dragons
Dubai Heat
Asian Championships
Dubai 9s
Vietnam 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 Timor East TimorOverviewCrocodiles
Lebanon LebanonOverview[24]Falcons
Macau MacauOverviewLightningNoneNoneNoneNone
South Korea South KoreaOverviewNoneNoneNoneNoneNone
Sri Lanka Sri LankaOverviewLionsNoneNoneNoneNone

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
Austria AustriaOverviewAvalancheStyrian DownUnderDogs

Vienna Galahs

CEAFL Cup, EU Cup
Catalonia CataloniaOverviewLFACLFACEU Cup
Czech Republic Czech RepublicOverviewDragonsPrague DragonsCAAFLCAAFL LeagueEU Cup
Denmark DenmarkOverviewVikingsFarum CatsDAFLDAFL Premier LeagueDoctor's Cup4th, 2002
Croatia CroatiaOverviewKnightsZagreb Hawks, Agram Power, Velika Gorica BombersCAARFCRO LeagueEU Cup
England 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
France FranceOverview[25]Les BleusAix-Marseille Dockers
Bordeaux Bombers
Montpellier Fire Sharks
Paris Cockerels
Perpignan Tigers
Strasbourg Kangaroos
Toulouse Crocodiles
UFFAUFFA
ARFLF
EU Cup14th, 2011
Finland FinlandOverview[26]Ice BreakersHelsinki Heatseekers
Salo Juggernauts
Espoo Roos
Turku Dockers
Waasa Wombats
FAFLEU Cup14th, 2008
Germany GermanyOverviewBlack EaglesMunich Kangaroos
Frankfurt Redbacks
Rheinland Lions
Hamburg Dockers
Berlin Crocodiles
Stuttgart Emus
AFLGAFLGEU Cup, Tri-Nations
Iceland IcelandOverviewRavensBulls
Eagles
Dragons
IceAFLEU Cup
Republic of Ireland IrelandOverviewWarriorsARFLIARFLI1st, 2002 and 2011
Italy ItalyOverviewAzzurriRoma Blues
Milano Aussie Rulers
Genova Dockers
AFL Italia
Montenegro MontenegroOverviewSurvivorsAFL Crnu Gora
Netherlands NetherlandsOverview[27]The Flying DutchmenDelft Blues

Waterland Eagles
Amsterdam Devils

DAFADAFA PremiershipEU Cup
Norway NorwayOverviewTrollsOslo Crows
Ås Battlers
Tromsø
Scotland 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
Spain SpainOverviewBullsMadrid Bears
Móstoles Kangaroos
10th, 2005
Sweden SwedenOverviewElksAFL SwedenSAFL
SAFF
Tri-Nations8th, 2008
Switzerland SwitzerlandSteinbocksWinterthur Lions
Basel Dragons
Geneva Jets
AFL Switzerland
United Kingdom United KingdomOverviewBulldogsAFL Britain
WARFL
SARFL
6th, 2002 & 2005
Wales 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
Belgium BelgiumOverviewBrussels SaintsEU Cup
Poland PolandOverviewPolish DevilsWarsaw Bisons

Fort Nysa

Wrocław Lions
AFL PolskaAFL PolskaEU Cup
Russia RussiaOverviewCzarsThe Pirates
The Shooters
Slavyane
St. Petersburg Cats
Lazy Coalas
ФАФРEU Cup
Hungary 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
Georgia (country) 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
Australia 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
Fiji FijiOverviewTribeNausori Cats
Raiwaqa Bulldogs
Suva City Swans
Suva Lions
AFL FijiAFL Fiji10th, 2014
Nauru NauruOverviewChiefsNauru Australian Football AssociationNAFA Senior League
NAFA Junior League
5th, 2008
New Zealand New ZealandOverviewFalconsAFL New ZealandAuckland AFL
Canterbury AFL
Waikato AFL
Wellington AFL
NPC1st, 2005
Papua New Guinea Papua New GuineaOverviewMosquitosPNG Rules Football CouncilGoroka
Kimbe
Lae
Mt Hagen
Port Moresby
Rabaul
Eastern Highland
NPC1st, 2008; 2014
Samoa SamoaOverviewKangaroosSamoa Australian Rules Football Association5th, 2005
Tonga TongaOverviewBlack MarlinsTonga Australian Football Association
Vanuatu 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 Islands 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. "FootyWILD set to take Africa by storm? - World Footy News".
  4. "West African kids kick the Aussie Footy in soccer's heartland - World Footy News".
  5. Footy a welcome hit in Kenya, by Matt Morris - worldfootynews.com, 20 Nov 2004
  6. "Footy Shorts - Footy in Uganda ? - World Footy News".
  7. "Aussie Rules in Western Sahara - World Footy News".
  8. Santiago Saints headed to Rio for Brazil's first-ever footy match, by Aaron Richard - worldfootynews.com, 9 June 2009
  9. Bermuda 2007 cancelled, by Brett Northey - worldfootynews.com, 16 January 2007
  10. "Footy in the Cayman Islands - World Footy News".
  11. Footy enters Chilean alternative sports scene, by Aaron Richard - worldfootynews.com, 15 Oct 2004
  12. Dixon's world tour to advance the cause, by Brett Northey - worldfootynews.com, 13 Sep 2006
  13. Kickstart to sport from Down Under by Romila Saha for the Calcutta Times 16 November 2006
  14. Indian footy - the 2008 International Cup, Croatian connection and Vegemite Vindaloo, by Ash Nugent - worldfootynews.com, 18 January 2007
  15. "Indonesian League does the hard yards alone, by Sean - worldfootynews.com, 28 November 2006". Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 28 November 2006.
  16. Footy in Israel - From St Kilda to the Dead Sea, by Aaron Richard - worldfootynews.com, 19 January 2005
  17. College tournament planned for North-West Pakistan, by Aaron Richard - worldfootynews.com, 18 May 2006
  18. Pakistan keen to spread the word, by Ash Nugent - worldfootynews.com, 22 June 2006
  19. Aussie Rules gets its start in the Philippines, by Derek Ackary - worldfootynews.com, 15 January 2005
  20. 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
  21. Dubai tries to get footy moving in the Middle East, by Ash Nugent - worldfootynews.com, 23 November 2006
  22. "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.
  23. Dubai 9s preview, by Ash Nugent - worldfootynews.com, 7 Mar 2007
  24. Lebanese Falcons take Flight, by Aaron Richard - worldfootynews.com, 1 Oct 2004
  25. French footy gets on board with Leo Lagrange, by Aaron Richard - worldfootynews.com, 22 November 2006
  26. Finland domestic comp ready to break the ice in 2007, by Aaron Richard - worldfootynews.com, 16 November 2006
  27. Netherlands
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