They play football Down Under? They certainly do, and the high school-aged Australian Junior National Outback Representative Squad visited the United States on a 14-day tour that included scrimmages in California and Arizona and watching a 49ers game.
The Australian squad arrived in the Bay Area on Thursday, August 28, when they practiced at the University of San Francisco before attending the 49ers' final preseason game against San Diego.
As part of the visit, the Aussies scrimmaged and played a challenge game against Arizona Western College. Despite searing temperatures, being younger than their opponents and playing a 28-man roster against the Matadors' 84-strong sideline, the Australians thrived on facing American opposition.
"The guys were ecstatic that they even lasted on the field for the full length of the game and played as well as they did," said Australian head coach John Ludvigson. Originally from Orange County in southern California, Ludvigson began coaching in Australia seven years ago.
"We don't start playing football until the age of 14 and my boys are between 15 and 17, so most have only been playing for a couple of years. They gave up 47 points to Arizona Western, but they were so excited when we came off the field that you would think they had won the game."
One of the aims of the tour was to give promising young Australian players a chance to improve their football skills while representing their country and to also prepare for the inaugural 2009 IFAF Junior World Championship (JWC) to be played in Canton, Ohio, next summer. Australia hopes to qualify to join the eight-team JWC field that already includes Canada, France, Japan, Germany, Sweden and the United States.
San Francisco 49ers defensive line coach Jim Tomsula, who is familiar with international football having coached in NFL Europe, was intrigued to meet the Australians at Candlestick Park.
"I saw the passion for football overseas when I coached in NFL Europe, so I am sure these athletes from Australia are fanatical fans of our sport and hope they cheer on the 49ers," he said. "We already have some Australian punters in the NFL, and it would be great to one day have a defensive lineman from Down Under playing the sport at its highest level."