Gold Coast SUNS player Jarrod Harbrow will take centre stage against Ireland later this month, with the midfielder named in the Indigenous Australian Rules Team for the 2013 International Rules Series.

Harbrow, who also serves on the AFLPA Indigenous Player’s Advisory Board, told goldcoastfc.com.au exclusively he was looking forward to joining his fellow Test teammates for the international hybrid series, saying it was a great opportunity for the game’s indigenous players to celebrate their proud culture on a different platform.

“It should be a really exciting trip, not just for myself, but for all 21 players named in the Indigenous Australian Rules Team,” he said.

The AFL announced the Indigenous team ahead of its departure this Saturday for the International Rules Series in Ireland.

Star forward Lance Franklin, Daniel Wells, Lindsay Thomas and Eddie Betts are among the team’s biggest names, with Sydney Swans great Michael O’Loughlin as senior coach.

Collingwood football director Rodney Eade, Tadgh Kennelly and Andrew McLeod will also be part of the senior coaching panel.

The International Rules Series will be contested over two Test matches, at Breffni Park in Cavan on October 19 and Dublin at Croke Park on October 26.

Supported by Coles and the National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO), the Indigenous team will train in Melbourne on Thursday.

AFL football operations manager Mark Evans said this year's International Rules Series was a historic one.

"The series is a fantastic opportunity for the Indigenous All-Stars to come together as a team and to represent Australia for the first time in the International Rules series against Ireland," Evans said.

In the most recent series in Ireland in 2010, Australia secured a 2-0 victory under former coach Mick Malthouse, before losing 2-0 in Australia in 2011.

In comes as no surprise that Harbrow has made the representative team, already a strong supporter in the indigenous cultural space through the Club’s No Boundaries Program and his role as AFL Coles Indigenous Ambassador, GC SUNS Diversity Engagement Officer Michael Gugliotta said it was an honour to have a player of Harbrow’s calibre and quality of character represent the Gold Coast in Indigenous Test colours.

“This is a great opportunity for Harbrow and he definitely deserves it,” Gugliotta said.

“Not only has he had an amazing year on field but he has done some great work off the field, in particularly leading the GC SUNS Indigenous No Boundaries program.”


Indigenous Australian Rules Team:
Tony Armstrong (Sydney Swans), Dominic Barry (Melbourne), Eddie Betts (Adelaide), Alwyn Davey (Essendon), Aaron Davey (Melbourne, retired), Shaun Edwards (GWS), Cameron Ellis-Yolmen (Adelaide), Lance Franklin, Jarrod Harbrow (Gold Coast SUNS), Joshua Hill (West Coast), Leroy Jetta (Essendon), Lewis Jetta (Sydney Swans), Nathan Lovett-Murray (Essendon, retired), Ashley McGrath (Brisbane Lions), Steven Motlop (Geelong), Jake Neade (Port Adelaide), Mathew Stokes (Geelong), Lindsay Thomas (North Melbourne), Sharrod Wellingham (West Coast), Daniel Wells (North Melbourne), Christopher Yarran (Carlton)