Japan are finally back involved on AFL Asia’s biggest stage and it’s showcase event for the first time since 2016, with 2 teams gearing up to participate at the AFL Asia 2019 Asian Championships to be held at the Thai Polo & Equestrian Club in Pattaya, Thailand on Saturday August 31st.
THE JAPAN WARRIORS
The warriors are an all-Japanese University-based team, who will play in Division 2 and are currently preparing for their Asian Champs campaign whilst on tour in Australia. Watch out for their pace and skills!
THE JAPAN GOANNAS
The Goannas have previously participated at the 2013 and 2016 Asian Champs as well as the inaugural Shanghai Cup in 2017, will be made up of a mix of expats and locals aged between 16 and 46 years old.
The Japan Goannas have been a feature of the champs in previous years but after a few years missing it’ll be great to have them back on the park in Pattaya 2019!
AFL JAPAN GROWING AS AN AFL ASIA FORCE
It’s fantastic to see Japan back involved with two teams and will be a wonderful opportunity particularly for the Japan Warriors in Division 2, as quite a contingent of their players will be playing for the Japan Samurais at next year’s 2020 AFL International Cup.
The relationship between AFL Japan and AFL Asia is at an all-time high as has been highlighted by AFL Japan becoming an AFL Asia Full Member in late 2017. Japanese players have been a key ingredient of the AFL Asia Lions side over the past 3 years that has taken on the Team AFL China Dragons as part of the annual Curtain Closer game played after the AFL game at Jiangwan Stadium, Shanghai, China.
We wish the Japan Warriors and Japan Goannas all the best in the quest for success at this year’s Asian Champs!
