Hello my name is Peter Ross originally from Legan in Co Longford but now living and working in Rathfarnham in South Dublin.  I am an Irish Aussie Rules player going to Australia in August to help Ireland retain the AFL International Cup.  The International Cup is the premier international Aussie Rules event in the world with the final being staged at the world famous Melbourne Cricket Ground, the biggest stadium in Australia.  This tournament is staged every three years and Ireland have won the title on two occasions, in 2002 and the most recent cup in 2011.  Again in 2014 Ireland will be strongly fancied, however competition will be stiff with New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Great Britain, South Africa and the USA all expected to be contenders come finals.

I started playing Aussie Rules with my local club, South Dublin Swans, based in Bushy Park, Terenure.   I got into the sport through an Australian friend and loved it from day one.  After a background in Gaelic Football it was fairly easy to adapt.  From there I progressed to the national team and this is my fourth year playing for the Irish Warriors.  The Irish national team have been very successful being the only nation to win the International Cup on more than one occasion.  Ireland have also won the 2013 European Championships and the 2011 and 2012 Euro Cups.  None of these victories have been easy with last year’s success over Great Britain in the European Final coming with the last kick of the game.

Personally 2013 wasn’t a season I will look back on with the fondest memories as I dislocated my shoulder at the end of May in a club game and ran out of time to be fit for the European Championship staged in Dublin last August.  Worse was to follow as I contracted a rare bacterial infection following dental work that threatened to block my airways leaving me a week in St Vincent’s Hospital ICU with a tube down my nose when I was meant to be togging out for my club in the national finals.  Because of the hospitalisation I also missed playing for the Irish team in the Euro Cup last September and I lost a lot of weight and energy from the ICU episode.

Tougher times in ICU

Thankfully all of that is behind me now and I’m back to health.  All the players on the Irish Warriors Aussie Rules team must fund training and playing themselves.  With the International Cup being played in Australia the financial burden is greater with flights alone costing €1,300 and accommodation over €1,000 for the three week stay.  Being self employed also means I have to give up my income to play.

I have put together a number of rewards some of which are related to my business Life and Balance Centre www.lifeandbalance.ie.  At Life and Balance Centre we provide natural health solutions to maximise your mental and physical health.  Key services offered include Chiropractic, Biofeedback and Neurofeedback.  We are really world class at what we do and deliver amazing results.  Chiropractic care has been a very important part of my own preparation in terms of being at peak health to represent Ireland.

2014 Irish Warriors jersey

I would be grateful for all support.

Peter

Follow my progress on my blog

Follow Irish Aussie Rules here

www.arfli.com

Follow the tournament here

http://www.afl.com.au/global/AFLIC14