League Notes: AFL To Field Indigenous Line-Up For Int'l Rules Series Tour Of Ireland

Australian Football League Deputy Chief Gill McLachlan said that Australia "will field an all-indigenous line-up" for its Int'l Rules Series tour of Ireland in October. McLachlan described the AFL’s decision "as a significant announcement." He said, "To the best of our knowledge, the all-stars representing the AFL in this IRS series will be the first all-indigenous team to represent a sporting code at senior level overseas since that first cricket team toured England in 1868" (AAP, 7/3). ... Russia’s lower house of parliament on Tuesday "gave its final approval for legislation to increase security at sports events and toughen punishments for rowdy fans." The bill states that anyone convicted of "hooliganism" at a sports event "would be punished with a maximum seven-year ban as well as a 15,000 ruble ($450) fine," which garnered the support of 302 lawmakers (RIA NOVOSTI, 7/2).