Courtesy: richmondfc.com.au

Published: 26th August, 2011.

Two of Richmond’s international rookies will square off in the grand final of the Australian Football International Cup to be held at the MCG tomorrow (August 27).

The Tigers’ Irish recruit, John Heslin, and Papua New Guinean youngster Gideon Simon, will be on opposing sides when the two countries meet in the grand final, as the curtain-raiser to the Round 23 Hawthorn v Western Bulldogs match.

Ireland won the International Cup, which is held every three years, back in 2002, and it was ranked fourth overall for this year’s series.

Papua-New Guinea, which won the last International Cup, in 2008, was ranked No. 1 of the 18 competing nations.

Meanwhile, the Indian team competing at the International Cup, scored its first victory of the tournament on Wednesday against East Timor.

The India Tigers are being supported by Richmond, and have competed in the tournament wearing replica Richmond guernseys.

India’s Jay Himat booted eight of the team’s nine goals, to help the Tigers to a seven-point win.

He met Richmond’s own goalkicking star, Jack Riewoldt, at the ME Bank Centre, Punt Road Oval, yesterday.