The first official International Rules Series was played in 1984 in Ireland, though Gaelic contests involving Australian teams date back to 1967. They were the brainchild of former VFL Grand Final umpire, entrepreneur and media man Harry Beitzel.
Gaelic games were played in Ireland against county and national sides in 1967, 1968 and 1978, with Australia winning all three series.
Official International Rules Series games, involving a combination of Australian Football and Gaelic rules, began in 1984 and continued in 1986, 1987 and 1990.
After an eight-year break, an annual series between Australia and Ireland was established in 1998 after a new agreement was struck between the AFL and the Gaelic Athletic Association.
However, after the 2006 series in Ireland, the GAA suspended the International Rules Series. The GAA and the AFL, after further discussions in early 2008, resumed the series in 2008.
The series was deferred in 2009 but resumed with a two-test series in Ireland in October, 2010, followed by Ireland’s tour of Australia in 2011. An all-star indigenous team toured Ireland in 2013 before the Aussies hosted Ireland in front of a sell-out Perth crowd in 2014.
The following umpires have officiated in International Rules Series test matches
Year | Test | Score | Venue | Aust. Ref. | Aust. LM | Aust. GU |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2017 | 1st | Australia 2.13.12 (63) d Ireland 1.13.8 (53) | Adelaide Oval | Matt Stevic | Jason Moore, Mark Thomson, Matthew Konetschka | Daniel Hoskin, Michael Palm, Peter Challen, Steve Axon |
2017 | 2nd | Australia 0.15.8 (53) d Ireland 2.10.8 (50) | Subiaco | Matt Stevic | Adam Bastick, Brett Dalgleish, Josh Garrett | Brett Rogers, Daniel Wilson, Luke Edwards, Sally Boud |
2015 | 1st | Ireland 3.11.5 (56) d Australia 1.13.7 (52) | Croke Park | Mathew Nicholls | ||
2014 | 1st | Australia 0.17.5 (56) d Ireland 2.9.7 (46) | Subiaco | Simon Meredith | Nathan Doig, Jace Collingridge and Brett Dalgleish | Brett Rogers, Dale Edwick, Matthew Laycock and Luke Edwards |
2013 | 1st | Ireland 2.12.9 (57) d Australia 1.7.8 (35) | Breffni Park | Matt Stevic | ||
2013 | 2nd | Ireland 6.22.14 (116) d Australia 0.2.2 (8) | Croke Park | Matt Stevic | ||
2011 | 1st | Ireland 4.17.5 (80) d Australia 1.8.6 (36) | Docklands | Ray Chamberlain | Chris Gordon | David Dixon, Mark Canning, Luke Walker, Adam Wojcik |
2011 | 2nd | Ireland 1.13.5 (50) d Australia 0.7.8 (29) | Metricon Stadium | Ray Chamberlain | Rob Haala | David Dixon, Mark Canning, Chelsea Roffey, Adam Wojcik |
2010 | 1st | Australia 0.14.5 (47) d Ireland 1.8.10 (40) | Gaelic Grounds | Brett Rosebury | ||
2010 | 2nd | Australia 0.14.13 (55) d Ireland 1.11.13 (52) | Croke Park | Brett Rosebury | ||
2008 | 1st | Ireland 3.6.9 (45) d Australia 0.12.8 (44) | Subiaco | Stephen McBurney | Adam Coote | Steve Axon, Peter Nastasi |
2008 | 2nd | Ireland 4.8.9 (57) d Australia 3.8.11 (53) | MCG | Stephen McBurney | Adam Coote | Steve Axon, Peter Nastasi |
2006 | 1st | Ireland 1.12.6 (48) d Australia 1.9.7 (40) | Pearse Stadium | Shane McInerney | ||
2006 | 2nd | Australia 3.15.6 (69) d Ireland 0.7.10 (31) | Croke Park | Shane McInerney | ||
2005 | 1st | Australia 2.27.7 (100) d Ireland 3.11.13 (64) | Subiaco | Mathew James | Mark Thomson, Darren Wilson | Craig Clark, David Dixon, David Shawcross, Andrew Curtis |
2005 | 2nd | Australia 0.18.9 (63) d Ireland 0.11.9 (42) | Docklands | Mathew James | Glenn Sinclair, Gordon Muir | Anthony Black, Luke Walker, Peter Nastasi, Steven Stirling |
2004 | 1st | Ireland 3.17.8 (77) d Australia 1.9.8 (41) | Croke Park | Stephen McBurney | ||
2004 | 2nd | Ireland 1.13.10 (55) d Australia 0.13.2 (41) | Croke Park | Stephen McBurney | ||
2003 | 1st | Australia 3.10.8 (56) d Ireland 1.10.10 (46) | Subiaco | Stephen McBurney | Jamie Giles, George Pampacos | Andrew Curtis, Wayne Hendrie, John Marrapodi, David Shawcross |
2003 | 2nd | Ireland 2.9.9 (48) d Australia 1.10.9 (45) | MCG | Stephen McBurney | Adam McDonald, Shane Jansen | David Dixon, Colin Hood, Peter Gonis, Steven Stirling |
2002 | 1st | Australia 2.15.8 (65) d Ireland 1.14.10 (58) | Croke Park | Scott McLaren | ||
2002 | 2nd | Australia 1.11.3 (42) drew with Ireland 1.8.12 (42) | Croke Park | Scott McLaren | ||
2001 | 1st | Ireland 2.13.8 (59) d Australia 1.13.8 (53) | MCG | Brett Allen | Michael Bell, Shane Jansen | David Flegg, David Dixon, Doug Gourlay, Craig Clark |
2001 | 2nd | Ireland 2.17.8 (71) d Australia 1.13.7 (52) | Football Park | Brett Allen | Mark Thomson, Amin Chehade | Shannon Riggs, Peter Honeyman, Leo Corrieri, Mark Bywater |
2000 | 1st | Australia 0.14.13 (55) d Ireland 1.11.8 (47) | Croke Park | Brett Allen | ||
2000 | 2nd | Australia 2.15.11 (68) d Ireland 1.12.9 (51) | Croke Park | Brett Allen | ||
1999 | 1st | Ireland 2.16.10 (70) d Australia 0.16.14 (62) | MCG | Andrew Coates | Michael Bell, Chris Macdonald | Anthony Black, Alan Letson, Mark Harrison, Frank Raiti |
1999 | 2nd | Ireland 1.11.13 (52) d Australia 2.12.4 (52) | Football Park | Andrew Coates | Mark Thomson, Tony Symons | Leo Corrieri, Mike Nicolai, Ante Perkovic, Mike Bradley |
1998 | 1st | Australia 2.13.11 (62) d Ireland 2.13.10 (61) | Croke Park | Andrew Coates | ||
1998 | 2nd | Ireland 4.12.7 (67) d Australia 2.10.14 (56) | Croke Park | Andrew Coates | ||
1990 | 1st | Ireland 0.12.11 (47) d Australia 0.10.8 (38) | VFL Park | Bryan Sheehan | Alan Hammond, Malcolm Owen | David Flegg, Andrew Sinclair, Doug Gourlay, Terry Suitryk |
1990 | 2nd | Ireland 3.9.7 (52) d Australia 0.7.10 (31) | Bruce Stadium | Bryan Sheehan | Unknown | Unknown |
1990 | 3rd | Australia 0.13.11 (50) d Ireland 0.12.8 (44) | WACA | David Johnston | Unknown | Unknown |
1987 | 1st | Ireland 3.7.14 (53) d Australia 1.11.12 (51) | Croke Park | Rowan Sawers | ||
1987 | 2nd | Australia 3.14.12 (72) d Ireland 3.6.11 (47) | Croke Park | Rowan Sawers | ||
1987 | 3rd | Australia 0.14.17 (59) d Ireland 1.13.10 (55) | Croke Park | Rowan Sawers | ||
1986 | 1st | Australia 1.14.16 (64) d Ireland 5.5.12 (57) | WACA | Rowan Sawers | Unknown | Unknown |
1986 | 2nd | Ireland 3.10.14 (62) d Australia 1.10.10 (46) | VFL Park | Rowan Sawers | Unknown | Michael Roache, Bernie Lowden, Leigh Keen, one unknown |
1986 | 3rd | Ireland 4.8.7 (55) d Australia 0.7.11 (32) | Football Park | Rowan Sawers | Unknown | Unknown |
1984 | 1st | Australia 2.15.13 (70) d Ireland 4.8.9 (57) | Cork | Rowan Sawers | ||
1984 | 2nd | Ireland 3.18.8 (80) d Australia 1.18.16 (76) | Croke Park | Rowan Sawers | ||
1984 | 3rd | Australia 1.18.16 (76) d Ireland 5.11.8 (71) | Croke Park | Rowan Sawers |