Earley braced for strong Aussie challenge

It has been ignored, ridiculed, blamed for the departure of every Irish player to the AFL, castigated for occasional outbreaks of violence and, more than once, even shelved. However, the International Rules Series is back. Again.

Two years after its last airing, the concept will resurface at Cavan’s Kingspan Breffni Park on October 19 before taking to Croke Park a week later and, wouldn’t you know it, the whole thing is already raising eyebrows.

The AFL’s decision to send an indigenous side to face Ireland this time around has been debated ad nauseam Down Under.