The 2015 International Rules Series (officially the 2015 EirGrid International Rules Test) will be contested between Gaelic footballers from Ireland and Australian footballers from Australia. The 19th series of International rules football since the concept's inception in 1984, Australia enter the test as defending champions, following their 10-point victory in the solitary test match in 2014.
The match is scheduled to be played at the headquarters of the Gaelic Athletic Association, Croke Park, on Saturday, 21 November.
The game in a nutshell
The International Rules game is 15-a-side with eight interchange players. It is played in four 18-minute quarters. A soccer-style goal is set up at either end, each manned by a goalkeeper, with goal posts on top and behind posts to each side. A goal (worth six points) is scored when the ball is kicked or knocked into the net. Sending the ball over the crossbar and between the goalposts is an 'over', worth three points, while a behind is just like Australian football – worth one point and kicked between the goal and point posts. Here's a snapshot of the rules:
• If the ball hits a post and bounces back into play, it's play on.
• When the ball goes out of the rectangular field (145m x 90m), there are no boundary throw-ins. A free kick is awarded against the team that last touched the ball.
• You can't pick up the ball or drag it in when you're on your knees
• The ball must be bounced every 10m on a solo run – with a two-bounce maximum.
• Tackles can only be between the thighs and shoulders, while shirtfronts and shepherds are outlawed.
• AFL-style handpasses are permitted, but only four in succession before a player must kick.
• The referee is also permitted to give yellow cards (10 minutes off the ground) or red cards (sent off for the rest of the game) depending on the extent of a misdemeanour.
Last Modified on 27/03/2016 14:27