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AFL Pacific Cup

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International AFL will return to the region in November with the launch of the Pacific Cup. The focus will be on young talent coming through the AFL's academies in the islands, and right now the rules won't allow PNG's first home-grown AFL professional, Ace Oea, to play for it in the new tournament. 

AFL Pacific Cup - ABC Pacific

International AFL back on the calendar at last, but with a new look  - ABC Pacific

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International AFL is back with a new format. 

Not one, but three tournaments are to be played with the Transatlantic Cup in Canada in August, and then in November the Asia Cup, and on Australia's Sunshine Coast, the Pacific Cup. 

Eight Pacific nations have been invited to compete — Papua New Guinea, Fiji, Nauru, New Zealand, Tonga, Vanuatu, Samoa and Solomon Islands, and the hope is that South Africa will also make the trip.

Unable now to defend the International Cup title it secured for the second time in a row in 2017, PNG is keen to do the next best thing and take out the new trophy. 

Its young star from 2017, Ace Oea, isn't eligible to play now he's on the list at Gold Coast Suns, but there's some suggestion that rule might change before the first bounce in the new competition.  