The draw for the 2013 Atlantic Cup was announced by the European Federation of American Football yesterday evening. The tournament is being staged at Tallaght Stadium, Dublin over the weekend of 29/30th June as part of The Gathering Dublin.
Semi-Finals – Saturday 29th June:
12:00 Amersfoort Untouchables (NL) v Belfast Trojans (IAFL).
15:30 Trinity College Dublin (IAFL) v Brussels Tigers (Bel).
The Final and third place play-off will take place on Sunday 30th June.
This is the 5th edition of the annual tournament, which is the official European Championship for purely amateur teams in Western Europe.
For the first time ever, the event will feature two teams from the IAFL. Northern Ireland’s Belfast Trojans secured their entry by winning the Shamrock Bowl, which is Ireland’s all-island National Championship in 2012. At present, they are leading the Shamrock Bowl Conference (SBC) North with an unbeaten record. The team was unbeaten in 2012.
Amersfoort Untouchables finished last season with an impressive 8-3 record overall in the Dutch league. The team enters the tournament with the added pressure of having to defend the title on behalf of the Netherlands American football federation – Lelystad Commanders won last year.
Brussels Tigers are the dominant team in Belgium right now. They gained entry to the tournament with an impressive 46-6 victory over Antwerp Diamonds in last years Belgian Bowl. To date, they are unbeaten this season in the Belgian championship.
Trinity College Dublin is one of the rising stars of the IAFL. At present the team has the best record of the six SBC teams based south of the border and is leading SBC South with a 5-2 record. The team adds some local interest to the tournament.
Details of how to obtain tickets for each day’s action will be announced soon.
