The game is being broadcast on Eurosport 2, with coverage starting at 7:30pm Irish time.

Preview (from GFL press release):
Kickoff for International Challenge Bowl II at the Paul-Janes-Stadion at Düsseldorf will be at 7 p.m. on Whitsun Saturday. The game will be aired live on Eurosport 2 throughout Europe, as the German federation AFVD continues its partnership with the Paris-based broadcasting group and brings the next American football game onto European television.

The Seagulls already had been to Europe in May 2012, when they defeated the Dresden Monarchs by 29-17. So Europe still is waiting for a first victory against a Japanese side, the Düsseldorf Panther are eager to try their best at accomplishing this task. The Panther organisation is the oldest existing football club in Europe (established in 1978), has already produced the first European-trained player on a skill position to be drafted to the NFL in Sebastian Vollmer, was Germany’s first-ever Eurobowl champion back in 1995, so it would be quite fitting for the team to manage a first-ever win for an European team against an opponent from Japan.

However this will be a serious challenge: American football is played in Japan since the 1930s, Japan’s educational system after the Second World War was reformed according to the U.S. model, which lifted American football into the curriculum in Japanese schools. Japan’s national team won the two first world championships and lost another World Cup final only in overtime against the United States.

The Obic Seagulls from Narashino near Tokyo this year just celebrate their 20-year club anniversary, but have won a record seven X League titles and six Japanese Championships, which is played for by the X-League champion and the Japanese college champion annually in January in the Rice Bowl. Since 2010, the Seagulls won the national title three times in a row and again will not only be favoured for the next Japanese season but also for the game at Düsseldorf.

Newsflash 16 May

A successful outcome for all parties was achieved which is consistent with IAFA sanctioning rules and policies and which delivers real benefits for both UCD and the IAFA. The game will proceed on 15th May at Belfield as a joint UCD/IAFA event.

Apologies for delay this week as I had computer issues last night

Newsflash 9 May

IAFL-1 newcomers, the Waterford Wolves record their second victory in a row at Drogheda Lighting on 5th May.

The Wolves are recovering this week after a hard fought win up in Drogheda on Sunday 5/05/2013 .It was a cagey first half with both defenses on top and both offenses trying to find some rhythm. Things began to change in the second half with the Wolves offense beginning to make some plays and the defense continuing to hold out in a tough physical game. The hard work finally paid off with a great pass and catch in the end zone which was the only score in the game.

The Wolves focus now turns to their next game at their home venue in the RSC, where we take on the Dublin Dragons on the 26/05/2013, promising to be another very tough encounter. Waterford will be looking for a big performance at home.

Report based on Wolves report.

Apologies for delay this week - due to a  late game report form

Newsflash 2 May

On the 10th April 2013, 6 of the Rebel’s current squad visited Our Lady Children’s Hospital Crumlin, to meet the kids and give them a break from their regular day to day activities. On the day itself we had 3 players kitted up and another 3 with pads and helmets for the kids to try on along with giving them all lollipops and
some toys.

Joe Buckley meets Rebels players

We were taken around all the different wards on the day, and met kids that were not even one week old to kids who were in their mid-teens. All the kids were very receptive of our visit and shared their stories with us and they also had fun trying on the helmet and pads. A few have told us to watch our backs as they are coming
for our places in a few years, one kid told me he is going to be at our next training session and wants to play running back, so Simon Mackey watch out.

These kids are true warriors, no matter what hardships life has thrown at them, they have gotten and fought on through it with their families by their side and with the incredible work that the nurses, doctors and the volunteers provide.

Rebels hanging with Oliver Kelly

We want to thank Conall Mac Riocaird who made it possible for us to attend to the hospital, to all the ward nurses and staff, the 2 medical interns Katie Duggan and Dan O’Day but we want to say a special thanks to June Farrell who brought us to all the wards and gave us an insight into what goes on day to day in the hospital but most of all we want to thank the kids themselves for taking the time to meet with us and share the stories.

Dublin Rebels 62 -6 Craigavon Cowboys
People’s Park, Portadown
April 28th 2013

Despite playing and losing their first away game of the year against the West Dublin Rhinos 2 weeks ago, the Rebels hit the road for reals and headed North to play their first of 3 games in as many weeks against Northern opposition. The 7-6 loss was now in the rear view mirror as the Rebels looked ahead up the long highway to the Shamrock Bowl. Luckily for the Rebels the players brought more balls onto the pitch than game manager Mick Clarke brought onto the bus and it was clear from the off that the road team were out to make a statement to the rest of the league that “Black Is Back”.

Looking to capture the IAFL rushing record for 2013, running back Simon Mackey, probably fresh from an early morning Ben Dunne session with Smith & Wesson, put up 3 rushing TDs in the first quarter alone with 2 point conversions to boot to put the Rebels ahead by a surprising 24 points. With low squad numbers amongst Ireland’s original American Football team, the Cowboys seemed happy to sit back and try stemming the flow of arterial gridiron pressure being pumped by the Rebels “Reservoir Pigs” O-line. The absence of Cowboys starting QB Peter Loughran didn’t help the home side as they struggled to create any offensive momentum against the Rebel’s stingy No Name Defense. The Rebels however reminded the league that they are not just a running game team when QB Andy Dennehy connected with rookie tight end Peter Keely on a pretty rainbow over the Cowboys secondary. He also connected with receiver Gary Sommerville on a quick strike and a customary bomb over the top for 2 TDs. Mackey added another TD to his haul to give him 9 this season after only 4 games. Defensive players got in on the scoring act also with defensive tackle Ger O’ Leary forcing his Northern counterparts into conceding a safety. Defensive back Senan O’ Mahony picked off an errant throw by 18 year old Cowboys QB Christian Cowan and took it back to the house to score the Rebels second pick 6 of the year. The home side scored a TD of their own when receiver Ryan Brolly snagged a deep ball in the Rebels endzone. Despite a flattering score line of 62-6, one thing you always get playing Northern teams is physical game and it was no different on this occasion. A stout Cowboys defensive line made the Rebels O work for their treats and showed why they are around since the dawn of the IAFL.

The Rebels boarded the bus with a W in the back pocket and enjoyed the drink fuelled, Burger King smelling journey back home with the upcoming Trojans game seeping into their thoughts. Rookies were made perform like circus monkeys; some were horrid, some were meh, but none were Paul Grogan, the songbird of our generation. The win puts the Rebels at 3-1, trailing the 4-0 Belfast Trojans at the top of the SBC North. Back to back games against the National Champions in Dublin and Belfast in the next 2 weeks will decide the wearer of the Northern crown and the right to face the wild-card winners in the SBC South. Be sure to catch the first of these mouth watering clashes this Sunday at 2pm in Sportslink Santry.

Scorers:
1st Quarter
Run by S.Mackey (2pc successful) 8-0
Run by S.Mackey (2pc successful) 16-0
Run by S.Mackey (2pc successful) 24-0
2nd Quarter
Pass by A. Dennehy to P.Keely (2pc successful) 32-0
Pass by A. Dennehy to G. Sommerville (2pc unsuccessful) 38-0
Safety by G. O’ Leary 40-0
Half time Dublin Rebels 40-0 Craigavon Cowboys 0

3rd Quarter
Run by S.Mackey (2pc successful) 48-0
Pass by A. Dennehy to G. Sommerville (2pc successful) 56-0
4th Quarter
Pass by C. Cowan to R. Brolly (XP unscuccessful) 56-6
INT Return by S. O’ Mahony (2pc unsuccessful) 62-6
Final Score Dublin Rebels 62 Craigavon Cowboys 6

Report by Gary Sommerville

Newsflash 25 Apr