The Australian gridiron team.
Camera IconThe Australian gridiron team. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

IFAF U19 World Championships: Australia’s first-ever appearance

Staff WriterJoondalup Times

Darch teenager Dominic Allison (16) and Wanneroo resident Luke Butler (17) both play as offensive linesmen.

Hillarys resident Nikolai Price (18) performs at the receiver position, while Sorrento 18-year-old James Vincent suits up as a linebacker.

The American football fanatics are among the best in the country under the age of 19. The side beat New Zealand in the Oceania Bowl last year, earning them a position in the World Championship.

They will face the might of the United States as well as Canada, China, Germany, Finland and Mexico.

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Head coach Luke Chapman said the team had “trained extremely hard to get where they are today”.

“Many of the team aspire to play for the National Football League in the United States,” he said.

“This World Championship competition is important for them as they will be playing their sport in front of the world audience, and also important for Australia to put us on the international competitions map.”