2020 International Rules Series
| Event | International Rules Series | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||||
| First test | |||||||
| |||||||
| Date | 15 November 2020 (cancelled) | ||||||
| Second test | |||||||
| |||||||
| Date | 21 November 2020 (cancelled) | ||||||
The 2020 International Rules Series was to be the 21st
It was cancelled in April 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic in the Republic of Ireland.[2]
Background
The previous series between the countries had been held in and won by Australia in November 2017.[3] As the GAA had scheduled an exhibition hurling match between Galway and Kilkenny at the Sydney Showground Stadium in November 2018, the two associations met to discuss the prospect of holding a series the following year.[4] As time passed, plans for a series in 2019 did not materialise, and the GAA eventually confirmed that insufficient time remained to stage the event.[5] In November 2019 the AFL and GAA proposed dates for a two-test series in 2020 to be held in Ireland.[1][6] The GAA also proposed to hold a memorial ahead of the second test in commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Bloody Sunday massacre, which saw fourteen civilians killed at a Gaelic football match at Croke Park during the Irish War of Independence.[7] On 4 April 2020, shortly after the initial wave of the coronavirus pandemic in Australia, the AFL announced the cancellation of the series.[8][2]
See also
- International rules football
- Relationship between Gaelic football and Australian rules football
References
- ^ a b "International Rules is back: Ireland series locked in for 2020". AFL.com.au. 19 November 2019.
- ^ a b "Future of International Rules series up in the air as 2020 games cancelled due to coronavirus crisis". independent.ie. Independent News & Media. 5 April 2020. Retrieved 13 April 2020.
- ^ "Australia claims come-from-behind win over Ireland to regain Cormac McAnallen Cup". Herald Sun. 18 November 2017. Archived from the original on 16 February 2018. Retrieved 18 November 2017.
- ^ "Future of International Rules series facing further compromise". The Irish Times. 30 October 2018.
- ^ "International Rules still on agenda, for 2020". The Age. 13 June 2019.
- ^ "Two-test International Rules Series to be played in Ireland next year". Irish Examiner. 18 November 2019.
- ^ "Rules return to feature Bloody Sunday memorial". Independent.ie. 19 November 2019.
- ^ McFarlane, Glenn (5 April 2020). "AFL calls off International Rules series this year, with doubts on its future viability". Herald Sun. Retrieved 5 April 2020.