High School Athletes Invited To Play Irish National Team

American Football Worldwide (AFW) is seeking high school seniors to play in history-making first international game.

American Football Worldwide is looking for ambitious and adventurous senior high school football players interested in being a part of history in representing the USA in the first ever game of American football between U.S. high school players and the national team of Ireland.

AFW, the leading organization in overseas high school football tours, has been invited by the Irish American Football Association to bring a high school select team to Ireland. They will spend a week exploring and learning about the Emerald Island, join in cross-cultural activities involving American football and conclude an exciting week playing in the inaugural American football game between these two friendly countries that share a special relationship and heritage.

The game is scheduled to be played during the US spring break season on April 8, 2017.

AFW has put together a tour opportunity such that US team members will meet at gateway departure cities and with AFW staff depart for Dublin on Saturday, April 1 2017. The tour group of players, family members and coaches will arrive in Ireland on Sunday, April 2nd and spend evenings in Galway, Limerick and Dublin over the following seven nights. Practices, including some co-practices with players from Ireland, will take place once daily with the rest of the time committed to an insightful, fun and busy touring schedule. Family members are welcome to join the tour as well.

American football has been played in Ireland as a club sport for nearly half a century. This past season, Ireland celebrated the 30th annual Shamrock Bowl which is the national championship of American football in Ireland. In this year’s game on August 7, the Dublin Rebels – historically the most successful American football team in Ireland, defeated the recent four-time defending Shamrock Bowl champions Belfast Trojans in a hard fought 12-7 contest at Tallaght Stadium in Dublin.

With the goal of entering into some national and cross-cultural contests in Europe, the Irish American Football Federation wants their younger players to learn from the people that know and execute American football the best. Due to AFW’s positive reputation due to several highly successful high school select and small college tours to other destinations in Europe, they invited AFW to bring a US team to help our great game grow and develop on their island. They strongly desire and American team to come over and with precision and passion demonstrate the way American football can be played.

High school senior players or their parents interested in this rare once-in-a-lifetime opportunity are encouraged to immediately contact AFW. We are seeking special young men to join this team that will experience an incomparable week of learning, practicing football with other excellent players from around the US, serving as an ambassador for our great game and their country all the while growing immensely from one of the most memorable experiences of his life.

For further information, view the information website under the HS ELITE TOURS tab or contact Jim Barnes at [email protected].