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Officials from the Australian Football League recently flew into Ireland to explore the potential for a return of the International Rules series. This effort followed productive discussions that took place in September 2024 when the GAA President was in Australia, and this could be beneficial to both sports in a variety of ways.
The addition of an international tournament of this magnitude would be welcomed by the gambling industry as a way to expand the live betting Australia has to offer consumers. Online gambling expert James Fuller explains that live sports betting is popular among Australians who want the freedom to explore markets that react to in-game situations.
While the sports have striking differences, they share enough of the same DNA to make crossovers relatively common, with players like Kerry's Tadhg Kennelly and Tyrone's Conor McKenna making a big impact in both by winning All-Ireland Championships and AFL Premiership titles.
Some of the main differences that fans will immediately recognise are that the GAA uses a round ball closer to a soccer ball, while the AFL's oval-shaped balls more closely resemble rugby balls. The Australian game is also more physical, with physical contact more active than in GAA.
Both games have bounce requirements for every three or four steps, and the GAA has a goal with a net that is protected by a goalkeeper, compared with the AFL, which relies on defensive players to stop the ball from being propelled through the goal posts.
The International Rules Series was first introduced in 1984 as a way of bringing the sports together and fostering strong international relations. International rules football's rules are a mixture of both AFL and GAA regulations, and fixtures were held at some of the top Australian and Irish venues, including Subiaco Oval, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Canberra Stadium, and Croke Park.
Australia won the last series to be played in 2017, and plans for a return to the series in 2020 were curtailed due to restrictions on international travel at the time. A return to the event could also see a women's series reinstated, with the only women's tournament taking place in 2006.
The series gives players and teams greater exposure, with the potential for moves, something that many will be aware of, with dedicated awards going to the best players of the series from each country. The Jim Stynes Medal is awarded to the Australian player of the series, with the top Irish player scooping the GAA Medal.
The series has attracted sponsorship from top national and international brands like Coca-Cola, Foster's, Toyota, Gatorade, and the Irish Daily Mail. Sponsors are attracted by the large attendance at fixtures and TV coverage, with the Seven Network covering the action from 1998 to 2001 and the Nine Network covering 2002 to 2005. Network 10 and Fox Sports have also covered the series, while in Ireland, RTE traditionally covers matches.
