Welsh Australian Rules Football League

Christmas/End of Season Meal, Sat. Dec 3rd

2011-11-29T13:04:00.001Z

Starting at the North Star for a meal at 6:30pm (the menu is below and includes half a bottle of wine each). Meal choices and payment should be given to James Gibson (WARFL President) in advance.

Please come and join us celebrate the end of the season and look back on the achievements of our clubs, national team and players.

The raffle will be drawn at the dinner where there are some excellent prizes on offer:

A night in Ibis hotel.
WARFL Polo Shirts.
Cymru Red Dragons playing jersey.
Cymru Red Dragons shorts.
Welsh FA pens.
Champagne.
Kukri socks.
Under Armour T-shirts.
and many other prizes...

Raffle tickets will be on sale for your club for every ticket you buy your club will receive 50% of the proceeds and WARFL 50%. Please contact your club president to buy a ticket.

Taxis will be arranged to move on to Tiger Tiger where we will have free entry/guest list/VIP for the rest of the night free of charge.

Wales win EuroCup 2011 Plate Competition

2011-10-13T20:02:00.001+01:00

Congratulations to the Cymru Red Dragons on bringing home a trophy for the EuroCup. The team were unable to bring back the EuroCup itself but did win the Plate competition beating Spain by 40 points in the final. A further update will be posted soon.

Here is how they did it:

Pool Stage

Vs England, Lost 29 - 9 (Click here for video highlights).
Vs Iceland, Won 48 - 22 (Click here for video highlights).

Knockout Stage

Semi Final: Vs Russia, Won 47 - 10.
Final: Vs Spain, Won 46 - 6 (Click here for video highlights).

The full results from last weekend can be found on the AFL Europe website, with the full compliment of video highlights can be found here.

Wales drawn in Euro Cup group with Iceland and England

2011-10-08T10:39:00.000+01:00

The Euro Cup is taking place in Belfast on Saturday 8th October in Belfast. The Cymru Red Dragons are in a group with Iceland, and the old enemy, England. The very best of luck to our Welsh boys who will no doubt do us proud.

The fixtures for our boys are as follows:

10.30 am: England vs Wales.
12.30 pm: Wales vs Iceland.
Knockout sstages from 2.00 pm onwards.

Follow the tournament online:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/afl-europe

Live score update are available on the AFL Europe Twitter:
http://twitter.com/#!/afl_europe

Dragons get ready to soar at EuroCup

2011-09-24T13:29:00.000+01:00

The Cymru Red Dragons squad to compete at the Belfast EuroCup has been named and feature a strong team full of experience. Coach Kim Swain has chosen a line up with players from the Welsh Austrailan Rules Football League (WARFL) and from the London League and Southern England League.

WARFL Champions, the Cardiff Panthers have the most squad members with 8 of the 16 Dragons having played for the Champions who went unbeaten last season. They include Captain David Saunders and his brother Jon, winner of the Panthers Rookie of the Year Award. There are also 4 Great Britain representatives in the squad, Mark Horsman & Andrew Atack of the Cardiff Panthers and Tom Gillard & Harry Triggs of the West London Wildcats, the 2011 London Premiers.

Other WARFL teams represented are the Bridgend Eagles and Cardiff Double Blues, both of whom have two players in the squad, whilst Asst. Coach will be Alex Parry of the Swansea Magpies. The final two places are taken up by experienced Portsmouth Pirates duo George Llewellyn and Sam Jones.

The EuroCup will take place in Belfast, Northern Ireland on the Saturday 8th October. The competition will see around 20 teams including the likes of Russia, Sweden, England and Italy, compete with hosts Ireland and Champions Croatia for the EuroCup over a 9-a-side format. Last year the Red Dragons came a respectable 7th overall and will be hoping to go even further in the competition this time. To find out more about Aussie Rules in Wales, please visit WARFL.org.uk

Full Squad

David Saunders (Cardiff Panthers, Captain)
Andrew Attack (Cardiff Panthers)
Brian Sparkes (Cardiff Double Blues)
Bryan Bliss (Cardiff Panthers)
Gareth Griffiths (Bridgend Eagles)
George Llewellyn (Portsmouth Pirates)
Harry Triggs (West London Wildcats)
Ian Carter (Cardiff Panthers)
Jamie Evans (Bridgend Eagles)
Jon Saunders (Cardiff Panthers)
Josh Davey (Cardiff Panthers)
Mark Horsman (Cardiff Panthers)
Rhys Morgan (Cardiff Double Blues)
Sam Jones (Portsmouth Pirates)
Scott Jones (Cardiff Panthers)
Tom Gillard (West London Wildcats)

Kim Swain (Coach, Cardiff Panthers), Alex Parry (Asst. Coach, Swansea Magpies).

Wales and WARFL represented at World level

2011-09-07T18:22:00.007+01:00

Photo courtesy of Tobietta Rhyman.

The WARFL would like to congratulate Anthony Trigg after the Welshman was named in the World Team at the AFL 2011 International Cup. Trigg has excelled throughout the tournament and impressed AFL Coaches, performing at an elite level during the AFL Combine Trials. The trials incorporate tests which include 20m sprint, running vertical jump, agility, kicking and clean marking. AFL National talent manager Kevin Sheehan said that, "We were also pretty impressed by British ruckman Anthony Trigg who, at 207cm tall, did a 2.95s time over 20m. He can certainly move along pretty smartly", (AFL.com.au, 2011). The record is 2.83s held jointly by current AFL players Stephen Hill (Fremantle) and Joel Wilkinson (Gold Coast)

Other Welshmen and Welsh based players involved in the IC11 were Tim Atkins of the Swansea Magpies and Chris James of the South Cardiff Panthers, both played for Great Britain Bulldogs alongside Welsh Captain Tom Case whilst former Panther Srinath Lakshmaiya represented the Indian Tigers.

From left to right: Chris James (Great Britain), Srinath Lakshmaiya (India), Tom Case (Great Britain).

Panthers claw their way to 3rd consecutive Championship

2011-08-17T17:05:00.001+01:00

The Cardiff Panthers cemented themselves as one of the best home-grown 9-a-side Aussie Rules teams in Britain on Saturday as they held off a strong challenge from the Bristol Dockers. Without talismanic ruckman Chris James who is currently at the International Cup with the GB Bulldogs, the Panthers fought hard to win their third Welsh Australian Rules Football League Premiership in as many years.

On a wet Cardiff morning, the Panthers knew they were in for a tough battle as the Dockers scored the first goal of the game within seconds of the first whistle. The Panthers though came back to score almost immediately after and goals at one end seemed to be constantly met with a goal at the other. The Dockers finished strongly however and went into quarter time leading by a goal.

It was the first time this season that the Panthers had finished a quarter behind and they were determined for it to be the last. Bristol’s experience of playing in the London Leagues however made them a tough team to break down. The Panthers though were prepared to fight them until the last and as the third quarter drew to a close, their fitness and strength in depth saw them start to pull away. In the final quarter, despite the best efforts of a Dockers team heavily loaded with Australian talent, the Panthers strolled home to a 23 point win.

Andrew Atack led brilliantly from the goalsquare, throwing the Dockers defence into chaos whilst David Gamble was strong in the ruck and defence and was named Best on Ground. It has been a truly remarkable season for a Panthers team who have lost only twice in the last two years and who fielded an Australian National in a game on only two occasions this season.

With the season now over, the WARFL turns its attention to two upcoming international tournaments and will be putting forward the Cymru Red Dragons for the inaugural Home Nations Cup in Worksop and EU Cup in Belfast.

Welsh Aussie Rules gets big showcase

2011-08-12T21:44:00.000+01:00

The emergence of Aussie Rules as a growing sport in the UK was further proved on Wednesday night as the Welsh Australian Rules Football League put no a exhibition of the sport at the Cardiff City Stadium.

The Football Association of Wales invited the WARFL to play on the field as before the Wales vs Australia football match last night. As the fans took to their seats, a 6-a-side "smother-game" was put on by players representing all 5 Welsh Clubs in the WARFL Premiership.

James Gibson, President of the WARFL said “This was an excellent opportunity for the Aussie rules league in Wales to show another form of "footy" tonight, many thanks to the FAW for this chance”

The League also seemed to gain some famous fans with Reading FC’s Socceroo goalkeeper Adam Federici having an impromptu kick-a-about after the expo and English Premiership players Tim Cahill (Everton) and Mark Schwarzer (Fulham) signing a Sherrin and wishing players from the Cardiff Panthers good luck in their Grand Final match with the Bristol Dockers.

The WARFL hopes to expand on this exposure with further growth next year.

Panthers look to threepeat League Title wins

2011-08-12T21:39:00.000+01:00

The Cardiff Panthers will be looking to win their third consecutive WARFL Premiership when they took on the Bristol Dockers on Saturday 13^th at the Welsh Institute of Sport, Sophia Gardens. The game starts at 10am behind the Swalec Stadium and the Panthers will want to continue their unbeaten run which has seen them become one of the most consistent teams in Britain. Their only defeats in the last two years have come at the hands of last years Grand Finalists the Swansea Magpies and an Australian saturated West London Wildcats team.

Their opponents the Bristol Dockers have also had a very good season this year having only lost to the Panthers in their first year in the Welsh League. The Dockers confirmed their place in the final with an emphatic 159-38 win over the Vale Warriors in the final game of the season to put them into second place. The Panthers however confirmed their place in the final some weeks ago will be looking to continue their dominance.

The WARFL Grand Final takes place at the Welsh Institute of Sport, Pontcanna Fields, Sophia Gardens on Saturday 13^th at 10am. For more information and to find your local club, please visit WARFL.org.uk

League Round 8 Results

2011-07-25T20:56:00.001+01:00

The Cardiff Panthers increased their unbeaten streak in the 2011 WARFL season to 8 games as they defeated the Vale Warriors by the biggest margin seen this year. The Panthers were at full strength and ran riot on the Warriors at Pontcanna Fields. Having easily won the 1^st quarter, the Panthers then exerted their dominance further by shutting out the Vale in the 2^nd, whilst putting 81 points of their own on the board. Andrew Atack topped scored for the Panthers whilst Chris James won the best on ground for his overall play as the Panthers won 32.29.221 – 3.3.21 winners. The win increases the Panthers lead and guarantees them a place in the Grand Final on Sunday August 14^th.

Second placed Bristol Dockers failed to gain any ground no the Panthers however as they failed to beat the Bridgend Eagles. Sitting at the bottom of the table on goal difference, the Eagles would not have fancied themselves against the Leagues second placed team. The Dockers however have not travelled well this season and went 17.17.119 – 13.10.88 to a courageous Eagles team. The loss leaves the Dockers in 2^nd place, level on points with the Vale Warriors but with a crucial head to head ratio of 1:0. As the table stands, the Panthers and the Dockers would head into the Grand Final clash to decide this year’s Champions on Sunday August 14^th.

Cardiff Panthers 32.29.221 vs 3.3.21 Vale Warriors
Bridgend Eagles 17.17.119 vs 13.10.88 Bristol Dockers
Cardiff Double Blues 15.0.90 vs 0.0.0 Swansea Magpies

Team	Played	Won	Lost (F)	Goals	Points
Cardiff Panthers	8	8	0	139	32
Bristol Dockers	8	4	4(1)	98	19
Vale Warriors	8	4	4(1)	77	19
Swansea Magpies	8	4	4(3)	61	17
Cardiff Double Blues	8	2	6(1)	69	13
Bridgend Eagles	8	2	6(1)	63	13

League Round 6 & 7 Results

2011-07-25T20:38:00.000+01:00

Here are the results from round 6 and 7 from the WARFL league.

Round 6

Bristol Dockers 8.12.60 vs 19.15.129 Cardiff Panthers
Vale Warriors 15.0.90 vs 0.0.0 Swansea Magpies
Cardiff Double Blues 15.9.99 vs 13.12.90 Bridgend Eagles

Team	Played	Won	Lost (F)	Goals	Points
Cardiff Panthers	6	6	0	93	24
Bristol Dockers	6	4	2	85	18
Vale Warriors	6	3	3(1)	58	14
Swansea Magpies	6	3	3(2)	46	13
Cardiff Double Blues	6	1	5(1)	51	8
Bridgend Eagles	6	1	5(1)	35	8

Round 7

Bridgend Eagles 11.8.74 vs 14.25.109 Cardiff Panthers
Vale Warriors 16.18.114 vs 3.10.28 Cardiff Double Blues
Swansea Magpies 15.0.90 vs 0.0.0 Bristol Dockers

Team	Played	Won	Lost (F)	Goals	Points
Cardiff Panthers	7	7	0	107	28
Bristol Dockers	7	4	3(1)	85	18
Vale Warriors	7	4	3(1)	74	18
Swansea Magpies	7	4	3(2)	61	17
Cardiff Double Blues	7	1	6(1)	54	9
Bridgend Eagles	7	1	6(1)	46	9

Devils represent WARFL well at Brit Cup 2011

2011-07-18T18:15:00.005+01:00

All Welsh clubs were represented as the WARFL Red Devils made a 17 hour round trip to Worksop last weekend as they took on the best of the best from throughout Britain in the Brit Cup. A number of late dropouts meant that the inexperienced Devils only took 12 men to the 12-a-side tournament featuring some well established teams with a wealth of experience playing together.

Despite the uphill challenge they faced, the Devils held their own and battled well. They initially struggled against both Grand Final teams the West Midland Wolverines and Nottingham Scorpions and lost by only a single point to both the Northern Warriors and Southern Saxons. The boys also managed an excellent victory, thrashing the London Wild Hawks, a mix of the experienced Wimbledon Hawks and West London Wildcats teams.

The players that competed in the Brit Cup were:

Christopher Hann (Cardiff Double Blues) Manager
Tim Atkins (Swansea Magpies) Captain
Bryan Bliss (South Cardiff Panthers) Vice Captain
Barry Cawte (Swansea Magpies)
Liam Corbett (South Cardiff Panthers)
Joshua Davey (South Cardiff Panthers)
Ethan Dicks (Vale Warriors)
Gareth Griffiths (Bridgend Eagles)
Scott Jones (South Cardiff Panthers)
Rhys Lewis (Cardiff Double Blues)
Adam Wheeler (Vale Warriors)
Dougie Young (South Cardiff Panthers)

The Cymru Red Dragons were further represented with Captain Tom Case playing a leading role for the Southern Saxons.

League Round 5 Results

2011-07-18T18:08:00.001+01:00

The South Cardiff Panthers were victorious in the 2011season’s first Capital City Derby. The top vs bottom clash saw Cardiff’s twoteams battle in out in wet and windy conditions at the Welsh Institute of Sport.Jack Wells gave the Panthers’ Chris James a tough battle in the ruck contestand the Double Blues were the first on the scoreboard. However DanielMorgan-Kane was once again in magnificent form for the Panthers, scoring 7goals with Dougie Young kicking 3 to help the Panthers win 17.25.127 – 9.7.61.

The Swansea Magpies were also in a local derby as they tookon the Bridgend Eagles. With the Eagles missing some crucial players they wereunlucky to lose a match where they were neck and neck up until the 4^thquarter. Tim Atkins kicked some stunning goals to ensure the Magpies won6.13.67 – 7.8.50 to put them 3^rd in the table.

In the WARFL final round 5 match, the Bristol Dockers madeanother journey across the Severn as they took on the Vale Warriors at BarryRFC. The game saw the Dockers win 13.6.84 – 7.7.56 leaving them 2^ndbehind the Panthers in the table.

League Round 4 Results

2011-06-22T19:43:00.001+01:00

The Vale Warriors were once again in fine form as they saw off the Bridgend Eagles at Heol Y Cyw RFC. Despite winning their first game of the season the Eagles have gone through a bad patch and struggled in front of goal and only managed to score 3 goals throughout the game. The Warriors however have been in fine form and after nearly upsetting the reigning Champions, Cardiff Panthers last week, they came into the game brimming with a confidence that saw them score 8 goals to win 8.16.64 – 3.8.26.

In the only other game to go ahead this weekend, the Bristol Dockers made a strong statement of their intent, with a big win away to the Cardiff Double Blues. Despite an attacking strength that has seen them consistently score well, the Double Blues have struggled in the back and conceded 29 goals against the Dockers. The team from across the Severn comfortably won 29.19.193 – 9.3.57.

Cardiff Panthers 15.0.90 vs 0.0.0 (F) Swansea Magpies

Bridgend Eagles 3.8.26 vs 8.16.64 Vale Warriors

Cardiff Double Blues 9.3.57 vs 29.19.193 Bristol Dockers

League standings following round 4:

(F = Forfeited Game)

Team	Played	Won	Lost (F)	Goals	Points
Panthers	4	4	0	57	16
Dockers	4	3	1	64	13
Magpies	4	2	2(1)	37	9
Warriors	4	2	2(1)	36	9
Eagles	4	1	3(1)	15	6
Double Blues	4	0	4(1)	27	3

Images courtesy of Kevin Welch Photography.

League Round 3 Results

2011-06-15T19:13:00.002+01:00

The South Cardiff Panthers continued their unbeaten run in the Welsh Australian Rules Football League but not after a scare by an outstanding performance by the Vale Warriors. Despite key players missing from their squad, the Panthers lined up with a strong team including Great Britain players Mark Horsman and Liam Corbett and European representative Josh Davey.

After kicking three early goals it seemed that this would be a routine victory for the 2010 Champions however the Warriors have been this years dark horses and constantly threatened. Andy Gardner led strongly from the back, with his big kicks constantly penetrating the Panthers defensive line, whilst Ethan Dicks, playing only his first year of footy kicked four goals and earned himself the Best on Ground Award.

At the end of day however it was the Panthers experience and fitness that paid off and they ended up 12.19.91 – 10.5.65 winners in what has been the closest and more fiercely fought contest of the whole season. In what was a horrible dip in form the Panthers will hope not to let their form dip again whilst chasing a 3rd successive title whilst the Warriors will hope to continue their form from their last 2 matches as they look to build on a promising opening to the season.

League standings following round 3:

(F = Forfeited Game)

Team	Played	Won	Lost (F)	Goals	Points
Panthers	3	3	0	42	12
Magpies	3	2	1	37	9
Dockers	3	2	1	35	9
Warriors	3	1	2(1)	28	5
Eagles	3	1	2(1)	12	5
Double Blues	3	0	3(1)	18	2

League Round 2 Results

2011-06-07T17:53:00.002+01:00

The Vale Warriors made an impressive comeback in their Round 2 clash against the experienced Cardiff Double Blues. The Barry based team were unable to put out a team in last weeks Round 1 clash against Swansea Magpies but this week pulled off an impressive victory in the capital. Despite a strong performance from the Double Blues' Tristan Lewis in midfield, Ethan Dicks & rookie Gareth Booker were standouts for Vale as the Warriors won 18.20.128 - 11.15.81 with Stuart Morgan prolific in front of the uprights.

Elsewhere, South Cardiff Panthers continued their impressive start to the season with a 15.23.113 - 2.11.23 victory at home to the Bridgend Eagles whilst the Bristol Dockers recorded their first win of the season, 16.23.119 - 7.13.55 at home to the Swansea Magpies.

Round 2 results:

Cardiff Panthers 15.23.113 vs 2.11.23 Bridgend Eagles

Bristol Dockers 16.23.119 vs 7.13.55 Swansea Magpies

Cardiff Double Blues 11.15.81 vs 18.20.128 Vale Warriors

League standings following round 2:

Team	Played	Won	Lost	Goals	Points
Panthers	2	2	0	35	8
Magpies	2	1	1	22	5
Dockers	2	1	1	20	5
Eagles	2	1	1	12	5
Warriors	2	1	1	18	4
Double Blues	2	0	2	18	2

League Round 1 Results

2011-05-31T17:14:00.002+01:00

Here are the reults fom the first round of the 2011 season:

Cardiff Panthers 20.20.140 vs 4.7.31 Bristol Dockers
Bridgend Eagles 10.13.73 vs 7.6.48 Cardiff Double Blues
Swansea Magpies 15.0.90 vs 0.0.0 (F) Vale Warriors

(F = Forfeited game)

League standings following round 1:

Team	Played	Won	Lost	Goals	Points
Panthers	1	1	0	20	4
Magpies	1	1	0	15	4
Eagles	1	1	0	10	4
Double Blues	1	0	1	7	1
Dockers	1	0	1	4	1
Warriors	1	0	1	0	0

Panthers retain Cymru Clwb Cup in 2011

2011-05-23T14:01:00.001+01:00

The South Cardiff Panthers were victorious for the second year running in the Cymru Clwb Challenge which was hosted by the Bridgend Eagles at Heol-y-Cyw RFC. The Panthers manged a perfect record on the day with four wins from four games. The winners were decided in the last round where the unbeaten Cardiff club faced off against an unbeaten Swansea Magpies team.

Unfortunately for the Magpies the Panthers were in great shape going in to the game, coming off a bye going in to the decider. Ruckman Chris James proved unbeatable in the contest, ably assisted by no less than four of his GB Bulldogs team mates. The inexperienced Magpies managed to put in a brave effort but the fitness and skill of the Panthers proved too much for them.

The Bristol Dockers made their WARFL debut in the tournament securing third place. They, along with the rest of the teams who took part, proved they are not to be underestimated in the league this year which is certain to be highly competetive.

Congratulations to Billy Hall from the Dockers who was voted as Best on Ground.

Final Standings:

Panthers - P 4, W 4, L 0, Pts 16.
Magpies - P 4, W 3, L 1, Pts 12.
Dockers - P 4, W 2, L 2, Pts 8.
Eagles/Warriors - P 4, W 1, L 3, Pts 4.
Double Blues P 4, W 0, L 4, Pts 0.

Cymru Clwb Challenge 2011 on 21st May 2011

2011-05-14T09:08:00.001+01:00

The annual start of season tournament takes place on saturday 21st May at Heol -y- Cyw Rugby Club in Bridgend. Each WARFL team will battle it out for the Cup, currently held by South Cardiff Panthers. The Bristol Dockers will make their Welsh Aussie Rules debut in the competition following their decision to join WARFL for 2011.

The competition starts at 1pm. Five league teams are involved with new WARFL team, the Bridgend Eagles, fielding a combined team with the Vale Warriors. It's certain to be a thrilling start to the new season where teams are expected to field new recruits and put into practice some of those off-season training drills and tactics. Preceeding this years tournament will be an umpiring course and it's expected that some new umpiring recruits will take charge of some of the days games.

Event details:
1pm @ Heol -y- Cyw RFC, Bridgend, CF35 6HR (Click here for a map).

A new home for WARFL on the web

2011-04-28T14:57:00.000+01:00

A warm welcome to the new online home of the Welsh Australian Rules Football League (WARFL). Our aims is to keep you posted on all of the latest news about the league here in Wales, keep you up to date on results, club news – pretty much anything that is to do with the sport of Aussie Rules and is related to Wales. The 2011 season will be kicking off in late May and we expect that this site will be fully up and running in plenty of time before that.

The WARFL Committee is a small group made up of elected officials and club Presidents. The recently elected WARFL officials are:

James Gibson (President), Joshua Davey (Secretary), Michael Martella (Treasurer), and Aled Morris (Media and Communications).

Contact details for the officials will be made available over the coming weeks once the transition period has finished. Keep checking in with us to get all the latest news and developments within WARFL.