Cambridge Parnells and Cambridge University Australian Rules Football Club preparing to do battle on Coldham’s Common

Two of Cambridge’s more alternative sports clubs will come together this weekend.

On Saturday (November 12) Cambridge Parnells Gaelic Football Club and Cambridge University Australian Rules Football Club will mould their sports for a pair of ‘International Rules’ clashes on Coldham’s Common, with both men’s and women’s matches set to take place.

For the Australian Rules teams, it will play a part in preparations for the imminent start of the National University League as well as a number of smaller tournaments and the all-important Varsity Match with Oxford University next March.

For the Parnells, the day provides a bridge between the 2022 and 2023 seasons following their Hertfordshire Championship run.

The matches will be played on a slightly modified Gaelic pitch with a Gaelic football rather than the oval ball used in Australian Rules. Goals will be worth six points, shots over the bar will be worth three and kicks that go ‘behind’ – a scoring area to the side of the goals – will count for a single point.

Parnells chairman Cormac Ryan said: “Most Gaelic football clubs would essentially stop training following the conclusion of the championship in September but we made a conscious decision to keep going.

“It’s a great social outlet and good for your physical and mental health so it’s brilliant we have a match now to go with it.

“There are a few people who joined recently who weren’t able to play in our final matches of the season so it will be good for them to get a run-out. I’m especially delighted with the influx of new female players over the past few weeks which means that they will be able to play their first match of 2022.”

Meanwhile, Muireann de h-Óra, who is the president of the Cambridge University Australian Rules Football Club, added: “I’m so excited for the first competitive match of the season.

“We’ve been training hard these past few weeks with our new coach Alan Chambers and the numbers at the club have been growing. It’s great to get an International Rules game with the Parnells and hopefully it will become an annual event.

“Aussie Rules in England was especially impacted by Covid with a lot of our players having to go home but we’ve done a lot of work to rebound.

“We’ve players from lots of different backgrounds and a great team spirit. We are in a good place now ahead of the new season.”

The women’s match will throw in at 12.30pm on the Coldham’s Common Gaelic pitch, with the men’s game following at 1.45pm.