 | This articleneeds additional citations forverification. Please helpimprove this article byadding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "South Africa national Australian rules football team" – news ·newspapers ·books ·scholar ·JSTOR(January 2014) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
 | |
| Nickname(s) | The Lions formerly the Buffaloes |
|---|---|
| Governing body | AFL South Africa |
| Rankings | |
| Current |  9th (as of October 2022[1]) |
| First international | |
New Zealand 163 – 1 South Africa (2002)[2] | |
| International Cup | |
| Appearances | 6(first in2002) |
| Best result | 3rd (2008) |
TheSouth African national Australian rules football team, nicknamed theLions, representSouth Africa in the sport ofAustralian rules football.
The senior side represents the best South African born and developed players as selected from clubs and leagues ofAFL South Africa.
South Africa had its international debut at the2002 Australian Football International Cup but the inexperienced team went through the tournament winless. It registered its first international win in the2005 Australian Football International Cup against Japan. Between 2007 and 2010, through significant development funding and reciprocal tours, South Africa competed annually against theAFL Academy (Australia's Under 17 team) and against numerous touring amateur teams from Australia. This resulted in a dramatic improvement at senior level, with South Africa achieving its best result, 3rd overall in the 2008 AFIC.
The team is nicknamed theLions, although at the2002 International Cup and2005 International Cup they were known as theBuffaloes.
They have worn a different jumper at each International Cup, with the first jumper green with gold and red wings, the second green with a gold yoke, and the current jumper based on theFlag of South Africa with a stylised Lion.
The team competed in the 2002Australian Football International Cup inMelbourne, finishing in 11th place.
A much improved Buffaloes outfit (reflecting the development of junior footy in South Africa) achieved 8th ranking at the 2005 International Cup.
The Buffalo's best and fairest player (from the 2005 International Cup) is Steven Malinga.
Since 2006, the team has played annually against the "Flying Boomerangs" under 18 indigenous Australian squad, with tours alternating between South Africa and theNorthern Territory in Australia.
On 14 April 2007, the Buffaloes played a historic match againstAustralia's Under 17 squad atNorth West Cricket Stadium inPotchefstroom, South Africa.[3] The team was soundly defeated.
Later in that year, the Buffaloes defeated the touringAustralian Convicts side.
In the warm-up to the2008 Australian Football International Cup, South Africa gave a Melbourne-based multicultural team organised by the AFL and known as "Team Africa" a football lesson. Surprising many with their skill and pace, they went on to go undefeated through the first 3 pool rounds including a win against the USA and secured a finals berth against the 2005 runners-up Papua New Guinea. However Papua New Guinea were too good for the much improved South Africans.
 |
| Tournaments | |
|---|---|
| National teams (men) | |
| National teams (women) | |
| |
