The 2008 International Rules Series was the 14th annual International Rules Series and was played between Ireland and Australia.

Quick Facts Event, Australia ...

2008 International Rules Series

2008 international rules series at Subiaco Oval, Perth, Western Australia
Event	International Rules Series
Australia Ireland 97 102
97–102 on aggregate, Ireland win series 2–0
First test
Australia Ireland 44 45
Date	24 October 2008
Venue	Subiaco Oval, Perth
Referee	Pat McEnaney (Ireland) Steve McBurney (Australia)
Attendance	35,153
Second test
Ireland Australia 57 53
Date	31 October 2008
Venue	Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
Referee	Pat McEnaney (Ireland) Steve McBurney (Australia)
Attendance	42,823
← 2006 2010 →

Close

After the 2007 series was cancelled by the Gaelic Athletic Association, the Australian Football League and the GAA agreed in 2008 to resume the series.

The matches were played in Australia – 24 October in Perth, Western Australia and 31 October in Melbourne (after the AFL Grand Final and All-Ireland Senior Football Championship).^[1]

Ireland won by five points on aggregate after recording victories in both tests.

• Maximum of 14 interchanges per quarter.^[2]
• Teams are allowed only four consecutive hand passes (ball must then be kicked).^[3]
• Match time reduced from 20 to 18 minutes per quarter (with stoppage time for breaks in play).^[4]
• Goalkeeper can no longer kick the ball to himself from the kick-out.^[4]
• Suspensions may carry over the GAA and AFL matches if The Match Review Panel see fit.^[4]
• A dangerous "slinging" tackle will be an automatic red card.^[2]
• A shirtfront endangering the head will result in a red card.^[2]
• Physical intimidation can result in a yellow card.^[2]
• One-handed tackles result in a free kick.^[2]
• An independent referee can cite players for reportable offenses from the stands.^[2]
• Yellow cards sin bin reduced to 10 minutes.^[4]

Notes:

• Main sources for squads: BBC Sport Online^[5] and Hogan Stand.^[6]
• Kerry's Tommy Walsh was named on the original Irish squad, but had to withdraw due to club commitments with Kerins O'Rahilly's. He was replaced by Paul Finlay.^[7]
• Dublin's Bernard Brogan was named on the Irish original squad, but had to withdraw due to club commitments with St Oliver Plunketts/Eoghan Ruadh. He was replaced by Martin McGrath.^[8][9]
• The match-day squad for both teams was limited to 24 players each.^[10] Thus Australia (who had a 25 man squad) had to drop one player for each test and Ireland (who had a 27 man squad) had to drop three players.^[10]

Ireland manager Boylan was criticised for including David Gallagher in his squad, as he was not then playing inter-county football.^[11]