Butler Athlete Playing American Football In Ireland

From American Football Worldwide:Declan Minogue from Butler High School will represent the United States as part of the American Football Worldwide ELITE high school select team that will travel to Ireland to play in only the second game ever between high school age playersfrom the two respective countries. The game is a follow-up to last year’s inaugural contest between USA-AFW ELITE and the Irish national U20 team. The international contest is scheduled to take place at the Navan Rugby Club, just outside of Dublin on March 31, 2018 with kick-off at 1:00pm.

American Football Worldwide’s ELITE team is built from recommendations and nominations from high school coaches and the NCSA (Next College Student Athlete) recruiting service. The US representative roster has representation from every region of the United States with over sixteen states represented. A team of twenty-seven ambitious and adventurous high school football players met in Dublin on Sunday March 25 th . During the week the team will typically practice in the early morning with the remainder of the day invested in educational touring of many of the historical and cultural highlights of Ireland. Several parents and family members will also join the tour party for a highly memorable experience on the “Emerald Isle”. After landing in Dublin, the team and tour group will depart for festive Galway with a stop along the way at Trim Castle of Braveheart movie fame. Besides enjoying mystical Galway Bay while on Ireland’s west coast, the tour group will marvel at the world famous Cliffs of Moher. Time will also be spent exploring historic Bunratty Castle and the famed Shannon River during a stay in historically significant Limerick. A visit to the remains of the famous Norman Dunamase Castle on the return to Dublin will also take place. While in Ireland’s capital city the team will visit Trinity College and the renowned Book of Kells, St. Peter’s Cathedral, Croke Park and the Gaelic Athletic Association Hall of Fame, Temple Bar, Guinness Storehouse and more. Minogue is a safety from Butler High School in Butler, New Jersey. AFW President Jim Barnes commented, “Observing these young men grow from the unique education that only international travel can offer will once again be the most www.americanfootballworldwide.... 4930 35th Avenue Moline, IL – 61265 - (309) 781-7274 - jb@americanfootballworldwide.com rewarding aspect of the tour. Each day will hold special life-expanding experiences for these young men who have a bigger vision for their future.”

Intermixed with the immense educational value of the trip, these student-athletes will look to come together as a team in one week’s time learning new terminology and football schemes as well as putting together a formidable game plan for their Irish hosts. In addition, a co-practice is scheduled to take place with the University of Limerick American football club. As part of its mission, AFW is visiting Ireland to serve the development of the game and serve as ambassadors for American football. This game will be the 7th annual clash between AFW ELITE and American football teams in Europe. In March of 2013 and 2014 AFW ELITE traveled to France for a similar educational and cultural tour defeating the French national U19 team on two occasions. The past three years AFW ELITE accepted the invitation of the Italian Federation of American Football earning victories over the Italian national U19 team. Last year AFW ELITE pulled away from the Irish National U20 team with a 53-6 win in the inagaural contest.

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