Australian rules football has been played in the People's Republic of China since the 1990s. There are a number of senior clubs, including in the cities of Beijing, Shanghai and Tianjin, as well as Auskick programs in other cities such as Suzhou.
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Australian rules was first played in Beijing is 2004, with the foundation of the Beijing Bombers.
The Bombers play an annual China Cup series against the Shanghai Tigers, as well as starting a 3-team metro league known as the Beijing AFL in 2009.
The Hong Kong Dragons were formed in 1990, and have been one of Asia's most successful Australian rules football clubs since this time. The Dragons play against other Asian teams regularly and have competed at all Asian Australian Football Championships to date.
The Dragons also coordinate an Auskick juniors program.
Australian football began in Macau in 2009, with the introduction of Auskick and matches at the International School of Macau.
A club was established in Shanghai under the name of the Shanghai Tigers in 2002. The Tigers have a playing list comprised mainly of expatriate Australians, with some British, American and South African players as well.
The city of Suzhou does not currently have any senior clubs, although in 2007, 18 schools had introduced the sport into their curriculum.[1]
The sister city relationship between Tianjin and Melbourne saw the beginnings of football development in 2005.[2] By 2007, a development organisation called the AFL China had been formed, with Tianjin Normal University having two Australian football teams at its main campuses.[3]
The Tianjin program is sponsored by the Melbourne Football Club and the Melbourne City Council, through links formed by former Melbourne Lord Mayor John So.
A junior program called the Gobi Desert AFL existed at a primary school in Hami, Xinjiang in the 1990s, but this has now disappeared.
A representative team mainly consisting of expat Australians in China has competed under the names China Blues and China Reds in International fixtures and Asian AFL Championships. The first national representative team composed entirely of Chinese nationals appeared as the China Red Demons at the 2008 Australian Football International Cup.
Chinese people in Australia have been playing Australian rules football since the 1890s. The 'Chinese Football Premiership' was played in Ballarat between 1892 and 1896 is detailed extensively in the local press.[4]
Chinese migrant Wally Koochew debuted in the VFL in 1908, becoming the first Chinese player to do so.
In modern times, there have been a number of Australian Chinese players in suburban and amateur Australian rules, notably with the Southern Dragons, but none have yet played professionally in the Australian Football League.
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