The ABF Board has received a request from a team of six youth bridge players to ratify them to represent Australia in the Under 21 Teams event at the 19^th World Youth Team Championships in Salsomaggiore Terme, Italy running from 12^th to 17^th July this year.

Prior to the Board considering this request we would like to understand if there are any other qualifying (players must be 20 or younger on December 31, 2025) partnerships who would like to be considered for the representative team.

In considering whether you would like to apply for a position on the team please note the following:

1. This team is self-funding.  The ABF will pay the team’s entry fees and provide uniforms.  All other expenses are to be met by the players.
2. The ABF will endorse fund raising by the team to help with the costs but there are no guarantees that there will be sufficient funds raised to cover your out-of-pocket expenses.
3. Players will be required to sign the ABF’s International Representative Player Agreement (IRPA)**.  This requirement applies to all Australian representatives.
4. The IRPA requires players arrive in the time zone of the event being played at least four days prior to the first match of play (note the cost implications).
5. Any players under the age of 18 will be required to be accompanied by a chaperone who must be either a legal guardian or someone who has been approved by a legal guardian.
6. Chaperones take full responsibility for the welfare and behaviour of their under 18 player.  The chaperone will also be required to sign an agreement, similar in nature to the IRPA**.
7. Partnerships applying for team membership are committing to play in the team irrespective of who the other team members will be.
8. A Non-Playing Captain (NPC) will be appointed and the IRPA requires players to respect the decision making authority of the NPC.

Having considered the above, any pair wishing to apply should submit an expression of interest (EOI) to the ABF Executive Director by 5pm AEDT on Thursday March 27^th.

The content of the EOI is not prescriptive but should include the players name, date of birth and a brief synopsis of their playing experience.  If either player in the partnership is going to be under 18 years of age on 7 July 2025, then the name of the player’s proposed chaperone and their relationship to the player should be provided as well.

A panel will be appointed by the Board to consider all applications and to make a recommendation to the Board on the team’s membership. 

Any questions you may have regarding this matter should be directed to:

David Fryda

ABF Executive Director

E: david.fryda@abf.com.au

M: 0418 427 458 (NSW Work Hours only)

** A copy of the IRPA and the Chaperone’s agreement are available on request

Posted in Latest News on March 20, 2025