For their week-long residency in Perth’s Duxton Hotel November two years ago, the Ireland International Rules team had their own recreational area in the lower ground floor.

John Fogarty The chances of the International Rules series taking place this year are diminishing as the GAA and AFL have yet to come to an agreement.

Australia sweltered through its hottest month on record in January and the summer of extremes continued with wildfires razing the drought-parched south and flooding in expanses of the tropical north.

In Eric Bogle’s great anti-war song ‘The Band Played Waltzing Matilda’ his narrator “lived the free life of the rover From the Murray’s green basin to the dusty outback I waltzed my Matilda all over” before he was called, like hundreds of Irishmen, to fight at Gallipoli.

The Catholic Church in Australia has rejected a recommendation by a government inquiry that priests must report evidence of child sex abuse disclosed in the confessional.

Fancy a holiday to Australia or want to visit a loved one who moved Down Under?

People in Sydney flocked to the beaches and tennis players were forced off court as the area recorded its hottest day for 79 years.

The International Rules series is unlikely to open in Philadelphia later this year, as GAA officials have deemed the Franklin Field as unsuitable.

Eoin Cadogan was back training with Cork last night - but with a hurley and sliotar, not a football - confirming his decision to switch codes and commit to the Cork hurlers in 2018.

Australia is a sports mad nation. With a population of 24 million, it is home to an extraordinary 90 professional men’s and women’s teams.

Mayo’s Aidan O’Shea has revealed his team-mate Alan Dillon played with a broken foot in the 2016 All-Ireland final games against Dublin.

Conor Murray is a maker of moments.

Australia’s victories this past two weekends means they are now tied 10 International Series a piece with Ireland, writes John Fogarty.

Joe Kernan has lambasted the performances of referees Maurice Deegan and Matt Stevic in today’s International Rules second test.

This will and should sting Ireland for some time to come.

Paul Murphy is hoping the changes to the GAA calendar from 2018 will contribute a less hectic end of year schedule in Kerry.

Galway forward Shane Walsh arrives in Perth today confident that he can build on his International Rules debut last weekend.

The City of Brotherly Love could soon be on the agenda for the International Rules as Philadelphia have been earmarked as a potential venue for a test match.

Despite the brilliance of Conor McManus and Michael Murphy, Ireland wilted in the Adelaide heat and have it all to do to retain the International Rules series in next Saturday’s test in Perth.

Illness, high temperatures and the threat of Australian aggressiveness could stand in the way of Ireland continuing their 100% International Rules record in Adelaide tomorrow – but captain Aidan O’Shea won’t be making any excuses.

As Joe Kernan keeps his fingers crossed that three of his bug-stricken players will be able to play some part in the first test, the Ireland International Rules manager has underlined the importance of the two referees doing their job tomorrow.

Having only turned 20 in July, he is the youngest player on the Ireland International Rules panel but Seán Powter isn’t afraid to speak up for himself.

International Rules demands more skill than Gaelic football, according to Kildare midfielder Kevin Feely.

The Ireland International Rules medical team have taken necessary measures to ensure no player is laid low by a travel bug for Sunday's first test against Australia.

Gary Brennan and Paul Geaney are Joe Kernan’s injury concerns ahead of Sunday’s first International Rules test in Adelaide.

Like their last two All-Ireland final clashes, champions Dublin have pipped Mayo by one in the 2017 PwC All-Stars, picking up seven to Mayo’s six.

Young footballer of the year candidate Seán Powter could join Douglas teammate Eoin Cadogan in the Ireland panel to face Australia.

Joe Kernan has admitted that the long-term future of the International Rules series remains uncertain, but the Ireland manager believes the concept remains popular among players and can flourish if arrangements are tweaked.

After appearing in the Star Wars films, the next biggie for Irish actress Genevieve O’Reilly is Tin Star, Sky’s new TV series, writes Esther McCarthy

Ireland’s International Rules prospects have been boosted by the likely inclusion of a number of Australian based AFL players for this year’s series.

The Saudi team officials said the tradition was not in keeping with Saudi culture, but that their players would respect the custom from the side of the field.

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