Shanghai Gaelic Football Club is delighted to announce the inaugural running of 'The Shanghai Gaelic Nations' Cup', a unique international gaelic football tournament. Teams representing China, USA, Scotland, England, Wales, Australia, Rest of the World and Ireland will compete for the cup. The event is part of Feile Shanghai - Ireland Week 2013, a week long celebration of Irish culture in Shanghai. Players will be drawn from sporting clubs throughout Shanghai and most will be playing gaelic football (Gaa) competitively for the first time. Men's and Ladies' tournaments will be held. Also planned is an exhibition game featuring children currently being coached Gaa at schools in Shanghai. The day will finish with a 'Poc Fada' where contestants try to puck a small leather ball (the 'sliotar' in gaelic) as far as possible using a hurley stick ('caman' ) - the 'Poc Fada' is related to the most traditional gaelic game of hurling which was first recorded being played nearly 3,000 years ago and is considered by many to be the fastest moving field game.

At the start of the event, the official opening will take place of Feile Shanghai - Ireland Week 2013. In attendance will be the Consul General of Ireland, Le Cheile (the Irish community association), Asian Gulf Board delegates of the Gaelic Games Association (having attended their 2013 AGM in Shanghai on 8 March), players and members of the wider Irish community.

Commenting on the unique occasion, the Chairman of Shanghai Gaelic Football Club, Brian Murphy said; ' We're eagerly looking forward to the big day with so many of our sporting friends here in Shanghai trying our native games for the first time. It's particularly exciting that the first ever team of Chinese will be representing China in an international gaelic football tournament and it should be a special moment when they take to the field in their new China Gaa jerseys. The club is honoured to be staging the official opening of Feile Shanghai - Ireland Week 2013 and we hope to play our part in making the whole week a huge success'.

Shanghai's gaelic football club is vibrant and growing. Recently, its youth programme expanded to cover coaching in schools and every Saturday sees about 30 children attending the club training session. Around 50 adult members train twice weekly on Tuesday evenings and Saturday afternoons and then compete in tournaments throughout the Asian region. It also prides itself on its active social programme for a membership drawn from many nationalities (not just Irish!). All comers are welcomed irrespective of background or gaelic football experience - the club's motto, 'Train Hard, Play Hard, Party Hard!', sums up its approach!!

Contact Graeme Ker on andrewgraemek@hotmail.co.uk. Training on Feb 23rd and March 2nd. Event on March 9th