More thunder from Down Under

The rough and tumble of Australian football, aka Aussie Rules, returns to China this weekend as the high-octane sport steps up its efforts to expand internationally.

The Australian Football League (AFL), the oval-ball game's topflight professional competition, will stage a regular-season match between the St. Kilda Saints and Port Adelaide Power at Shanghai's Jiangwan Stadium on Sunday.

"We represent a sport that is Australia's favorite game. It sits at the heart of our culture," Keith Thomas, CEO of Port Adelaide, told Xinhua. "It is a great vehicle for us to talk about Australia in China.