For further information or advice please Email the Webmaster

This is a non commercial site. Any infringement 
of copyright or 
intellectual property, 
is unintentional.

Most covers can be 
displayed as a 
larger image, 
in a new window, 
by clicking on 
the image.

Hosting at

Updated: 20/12/2008

International Rules Football

History of International Rules Football
International Rules Football is a composite game between Gaelic Football and Australian Football. Seeing both games it is not difficult to see why one theory of the origin of Australian Football is from the Gaelic Game. Combine this with the fact that about 20% of Victorians are of Irish decent and the close links between the two countries and the theory becomes even more plausible.

The first series was a privately funded visit by Australian Footballers in 1967 under the leadership of Harry Beitzel, an ex umpire. They were called the Galahs. They played Meath at Croke Park and won 3.16 to 1.10. The next week they played Mayo and won 2.12 to 2.5.

In 1968, with humiliation fresh in their minds, Meath visited Australia for a five-match tour. The All-Ireland champion would play five state sides and win the lot scoring 26.43 to 3.29 - a convincing answer.

The big match of the 1968 tour of the Galahs was against Down, the All-Ireland champion, fresh from beating New York in the second leg of a world cup tie. The Australians won 1.11 to 2.7.

In 1970, friendships were rekindled when Kerry went on a world tour, playing games in San Francisco, New Zealand and Australia. Kerry won all seven games.

Beitzel returned one more time in October 1978 and his team played UCD, Dublin and Kerry.
It wasn’t until Australian schoolboy teams toured Ireland in 1981 and ‘84 and a Dublin Colleges team toured Australia in 1983 that talk of a fully blown international series led to a senior tour.

2001 Australia v Ireland Cover

Official Series - Results
1984 (Ireland)
First Test: Australia 70 (2-15-13) d Ireland 57 (4-8-9)
Second Test: Ireland 80 (3-18-8) d Australia 76 (1-18-16)

1986 (Australia)
First Test: Australia 64 (1-14-16) d Ireland 57 (5-5-12)
Second Test: Ireland 62 (3-10-14) d Australia 46 (1-10-10)
Third Test: Ireland 55 (4-8-7) d Australia 32 (0-7-11)

1987 (Ireland)
First Test: Ireland 53 (3-7-14) d Australia 51(1-11-12)
Second Test: Australia 72 (3-14-12) d Ireland 47 (3-6-11)
Third Test: Australia 59 (0-14-17) d Ireland 55 (1-13-10)

1990 (Australia)
First Test: Ireland 47 (0-12-11) d Australia 38 (0-10-8)
Second Test: Ireland 52 (3-9-7) d Australia 31(0-7-10)
Third Test: Australia 50 (0-13-11) d Ireland 44 (0-12-8)

1998 TOUR (Ireland)
First Test: Australia 62 (2-13-11) d Ireland 61 (2-13-10)
Second Test: Ireland 67 (4-12-7) d Australia 56 (2-10-14)

1999 Tour (Australia)
First Test at MCG  Ireland: 70 (2-16-10)  d Australia: 62 (0-16-14)
Crowd: 64,326.
Second Test at Football Park Australia: 52 (2-12-4) d  Ireland: 52 (1-11-13)
Crowd: 45,187

1999 Australia v Ireland Cover

Another cover celebrating the series was also released by Havilah Enterprises

2000 Tour (Ireland)
First Test at Croke Park Australia: 55  (0.14.13)d  Ireland: 47 (1.11.8 )
Second Test at Croke Park, Australia: 68 (2.15.11) d  Ireland:  51 (1.12.9)
Crowd: 57,289

2001 Tour (Australia)
First Test at MCG Ireland: 59 (2-13-8) d Australia: 53 (1-13-9) Crowd: 48,121
Second Test at Football Park Ireland  71 (2.17.8) d Australia  52 (1.13.7) Crowd: 31,713

2002 Tour (Ireland)
First test: Australia:  65 (2.15.8) d Ireland:  58 (1.14.10) Crowd: 44,221
Second test: Australia: 42 (1.11.3) drew with Ireland: 42 (1.8.12) Crowd: 71,544

2003 Tour (Australia)
First Test at Subiaco Australia: 56 (3-10-8) d Ireland: 46 (1-10-10) Crowd: 41,228
Second Test at MCG Ireland: 48 (2.9.9)  d Australia: 45 (1.10.9)  Crowd: 60,235

2004 Tour (Ireland)
The International Rules trophy was named after Tyrone and Ireland star Cormac McAnallen, who died tragically in spring.
First Test at Croke Park: Ireland 77
(3.17.8) d Australia 41 (1.9.8) Crowd: 46,370
Second Test at Croke Park:
Ireland 55 (1-13-10) d Australia 41 (0-13-2) Crowd: 60,515

2005 Tour (Australia)
First Test at Subiaco Australia: 100 (2-27-7) d Ireland: 64 (3-11-13 Crowd: 39,098
Second Test at Telstra Dome Australia: 63 (0.18.9)  d Ireland: 42 (0.11.9)  Crowd:
45,428
First Class Collectables released a Commemorative Cover of Andrew McLeod  and of the Team.

2006 Tour (Ireland)
First Test at Galway: Ireland 48 (1.12.6) d Australia 40 (1.9.7)) Crowd: 30,000 (approx)
Second Test at Croke Park:
Australia 69 (3.15.6) d Ireland 31 (0.7.10) Crowd: 82,127

2007 Tour of Australia - Suspended.