Nauru national Australian rules football team

Australian rules had been played on Pleasant Island as early as 1916[2][3][4] with regular competition between local teams from 1921. As an Australian trustee, Nauru was the only overseas league recognised and supported by the Australian National Football Council in 1929. By 1954 its popularity had grown such that it became the only football code that children played on the island.[5]

Following Nauru’s independence in 1968[6] and the independence of the Australian territory of Papua New Guinea in 1975, an opportunity presented itself for a Nauruan national team to compete. The nation's first internationals occurred when the team toured Papua New Guinea a year later in 1976. Among the better players in the squad were Royong Itsimaera, Ali Iwagia, Johaness Itsimaera, Richardo Solomon, Vinson Detenamo, Manfred Depaune and Pres Nimes. Papua New Guinea went on to win the match by 129 points.[7]

Until sometime after 1999, the team went by the nickname the Frigatebirds.[8] In 2000, Nauru travelled to Queensland to compete in the inaugural Web Sports Cup. The side played against a team from Samoa and the Robina Roos of the AFL Queensland. Nauru won both matches. The team returned to Australia for the competition again the following year, this time defeating another two teams, including the Gold Coast Old Boys.[9]

In November 2012 Nauru travelled to Suva to take on Fiji in a three-match test series. Nauru won the first two matches by a combined 140 points.[10][11][12] The team re-asserted its dominance in the final match, securing the sweep with a 103 to 31 win.[13] This test series was the first official AFL international ever held outside of Australia.[14]

Despite the sport's popularity and the national team's success, as of 2017 no Nauruan international has played in the Australian Football League.[15] However, in 2008 seventeen Nauruan players competed in the Victorian Football League in preparation for the 2008 Australian Football International Cup.[16] In 2012 Yoshi Harris played a few matches for Greater Western Sydney Giants's reserve squad and in the AFL Sydney.[17] Though shorter in stature than the average AFL player, Nauruans are fast and athletic. Not a single player in the 2008 International Cup squad was over 183cm. Because of this height, the Nauruan style is to play close to the ground and is suited to playing in wet conditions.[18]

View of the Linkbelt Oval in 2012. Phosphate processing facilities can be seen in the background.

As the only Australian rules ground on Nauru, the Linkbelt Oval in the Aiwo District is home to the sport on the island. However, because the pitch surface is rock and phosphate dust, and markings are drawn on the rock with oil rather than paint or chalk, the ground does not meet standards for international matches.[15] [19]

AFL Nauru also organizes youth sides, nicknamed the Stars.[37] At the under-16 level the nation has experienced much success, including Oceania Cup championships in 2013, 2015,[38] 2016,[39] and 2019;[40] and multiple second-place finishes;[41] and appearances in the Barassi International Australian Football Youth Tournament.[42]

Oceania Cup

Main article: Oceania Cup (Australian rules football)

Key

  Champion   Runners-up   3rd Place

Oceania Cup results
Year	Finish
2009[43]	2nd
2010[44]	4th
2011[45]	2nd
2012[46]	2nd
2013[47]	1st
2014[48]	2nd
2015[38]	1st
2016[39]	1st
2017[49]	2nd
2018[50]	2nd
2019[40]	1st
2023

• 
  The Chiefs quarter time huddle at the 2008 International Cup
• 
  Aronson Eobob leaps high over Canada's Emmanuel Mattata in the ruck in 2008.
• 
  George Quadina kicks for goal against Canada in 2008.
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  British Bulldog manages to get a kick away despite being tackled by a Nauruan opponent during the 2008 Australian Football International Cup.
• 
  Nauruan player kicks a goal from long range against Canada during the 2008 Australian Football International Cup
• 
  Nauruan player kicks the ball downfield
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  Canadian Aussie Rules player kicks ball downfield against Nauru in the 2008 International Cup.
• 
  Yoshi Harris kicks for goal during the 2008 Australian Football International Cup
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  Canadian Aussie Rules player evades Nauruan opponent at 2008 International Cup.
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  Nauru and Canada contest the ball at ground level at the 2008 Australian Football International Cup.

• AFL Nauru Official Facebook