Denmark Vikings

The Vikings began life in 1992 when the North London Lions from the British Australian Rules Football League came over to give DAFL a footballing lesson. Proper internationals began in 1994 when Denmark played an international in England for the first time (losing again). In 1995, DAFL took a decision to exclude Australians from its national team, and it's been a rather more successful story since that time.

After the famous win in London in 1996, the Vikings haven't looked back. They have consistently had the measure of regular opponents, Great Britain. However, in the first international tournament of note, the Atlantic Alliance Cup in London in 2001, results were for the first time mixed as the Vikings lost to GB and to Ireland twice (who until 2005 had never been beaten in international games). The International Cup in Melbourne in 2002 was a more successful outing as the Vikings finished fourth out of eleven teams, headed only by Australian neighbours New Zealand and New Guinea, and the near professional Irish.

The traditional fixture against GB returned in 2003, but with the introduction of Aussie Rules to Sweden's largest two cities in Stockholm and Gothenburg, the Vikings have looked closer to home for more regular and economical international challenges.

Denmark and Sweden met for only the second time ever in June, 2005 in Farum, Denmark. It was a sensational match with a sensational finish - ending in a draw which should set up a fine Scandinavian rivalry in the coming years.

Unfortunately, due to financial constraints, Denmark was a late withdrawal from the 2005 International Cup in Melbourne.

In February, 2006, Jim Campion was appointed coach of the Vikings. The focus of the team shifted from annual matches against Great Britain, to a tri-series competition involving Sweden and Germany. Each team would have one home and one away international thoughout the year.

In 2008 the Vikings returned to the International Cup in Melbourne, where they finished 11th.