The Nauru national Australian rules football team represents Nauru in Australian rules football. Despite its small size and population, Nauru, which is the only country with Australian football as its national sport, consistently ranks among the top eight teams in the world.[2]
The men's team, nicknamed the Chiefs, debuted in 1976 and finished 5th at the 2008 Australian Football International Cup. A women's team, nicknamed the Aoreni, debuted at the 2024 Pacific Cup which it won. Male and female youth sides, nicknamed the Stars, have also competed regularly since 2009.
Australian rules had been played on Pleasant Island as early as 1916[3][4][5] with regular competition between local teams from 1921. As an Australian trustee, Nauru was the only overseas league recognised and supported by the Australian National Football Council in 1929. By 1954 its popularity had grown such that it became the only football code that children played on the island.[6]
Following Nauru’s independence in 1968[7] and the independence of the Australian territory of Papua New Guinea in 1975, an opportunity presented itself for a Nauruan national team to compete. The nation's first internationals occurred when the team toured Papua New Guinea a year later in 1976. Among the better players in the squad were Royong Itsimaera, Ali Iwagia, Johaness Itsimaera, Richardo Solomon, Vinson Detenamo, Manfred Depaune and Pres Nimes. Papua New Guinea went on to win the match by 129 points.[8]
Until sometime after 1999, the team went by the nickname the Frigatebirds.[9] In 2000, Nauru travelled to Queensland to compete in the inaugural Web Sports Cup. The side played against a team from Samoa and the Robina Roos of the AFL Queensland. Nauru won both matches. The team returned to Australia for the competition again the following year, this time defeating another two teams, including the Gold Coast Old Boys.[10]
In November 2012 Nauru travelled to Suva to take on Fiji in a three-match test series. Nauru won the first two matches by a combined 140 points.[11][12][13] The team re-asserted its dominance in the final match, securing the sweep with a 103 to 31 win.[14] This test series was the first official AFL international ever held outside of Australia.[15]
The women's team on debut. The Under 17 male side also won the cup. The men's side reached the grand final.
Players
Despite the sport's popularity and the national team's success, as of 2017 no Nauruan international has played in the Australian Football League.[16] However, in 2008 seventeen Nauruan players competed in the Victorian Football League in preparation for the 2008 Australian Football International Cup.[17] In 2012 Yoshi Harris played a few matches for Greater Western Sydney Giants's reserve squad and in the AFL Sydney.[18] Though shorter in stature than the average AFL player, Nauruans are fast and athletic. Not a single player in the 2008 International Cup squad was over 183cm. Because of this height, the Nauruan style is to play close to the ground and is suited to playing in wet conditions.[19]
Stadium
View of the Linkbelt Oval in 2012. Phosphate processing facilities can be seen in the background.
As the only Australian rules ground on Nauru, the Linkbelt Oval in the Aiwo District is home to the sport on the island. However, because the pitch surface is rock and phosphate dust, and markings are drawn on the rock with oil rather than paint or chalk, the ground does not meet standards for international matches.[16][20] In April 2024, the Australian Defence Force visited the island and were surprised by the playing surface. At that time, the government of Australia was attempting to build Nauru a second field with a grass surface through Australian Aid so the country could host other national teams and international competition. Other clubs and nations would not travel to Nauru previously because of the oval's surface.[21][22]
Men's team
The men's team, the Chiefs formed debuted in 1976.
The Chiefs quarter time huddle at the 2008 International Cup in Melbourne, VictoriaNauru men's team line up for the national anthem at 2024 Pacific Cup at Maroochydore Queensland
Nauru has participated in the Australian Football International Cup since the inaugural tournament in 2002.[23] They have gone on to compete in every edition of the tournament, aside from 2005 when the team had to withdraw because of financial difficulties shortly before the games started.[24]
Nauru competed in the 1995 Arafura Games in Darwin, the first edition of the tournament to feature national teams. That year they were coached by former Geelong Football Club player Mark Yeates. Nauru went on to win the bronze medal that year. The Chiefs went on to win the tournament in 2001, defeating the Northern Territory Eagles in the final. The team did not compete in 1997 or 1999 despite national teams competing in the sport at those games.[31][10]
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