Reports in Australia indicate International Rules Series will return very soon

Reports have emerged from Australia that the International Rules Series between Australia and Ireland is set to return in the next year.

The hybrid sport of Australian Rules football and Gaelic football first took place in 1967 when Australia toured Ireland, but the first organised series between Australia and Ireland took place in 1984, with the first match in the series taking place in Páirc Uí Chaoimh.

The series continued, with Ireland making trips Down Under, until 2017, with the last match in the series being played at Domain Stadium in Perth. In total, 42 tests were played in that time, with Ireland winning 21 contests, Australia 19 and 2 draws.

The Series was put on hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic, as Australia’s 2020 tour to Ireland was cancelled, with Ireland’s follow up 2022 tour also put on ice.

However, in the last few years there’s been a bigger push from the AFL to bring back the series, and it now looks like the series will make a big return very soon.

Reports from Australian outlet The Herald Sun have revealed that the International Rules Series is in line to return in 2027, with Ireland hosting a ‘one or two game series’ before travelling to Australia in 2028.

These reports come after AFL officials came to Dublin this week for talks with the GAA on a range of topics, ranging from the return of the International Rules Series to recruitment protocols of Irish players by AFL clubs.

AFL COO Tom Harley said that ‘is a genuine desire on both sides to continue strengthening the relationship, particularly around supporting Irish players pursuing opportunities in Australia, and we’re excited about what further collaboration between our two organisations could look like.’

He added: ‘We have enormous respect for the GAA, and it was important for us to sit down together in person, understand each other’s perspectives and work through the opportunities and challenges in a really open way.’