body type making it more difficult for successful conversion between the two, although it does sometimes happen at junior level, particularly in areas where both codes are played (such as the Riverina region). Though the modern specialist and positions in rugby league can be suitable for the body type and skill of some Australian rules players. League players Darren Lockyer, Glenn Lazarus, Greg Brentnall, Chris Kinna, Kevin Proctor and Tom Trbojevic all played Aussie Rules at a junior level. Australian rules football to rugby union Jason Akermanis was the first professional Australian football player to suggest a switch to rugby union. Nevertheless, there are still some positions and roles that have commonalities. Also at amateur level, conversion is quite common, as in the case of many start-up Australian rules clubs in countries such as France and countries such as New Zealand, Samoa and Papua New Guinea where there are dual-internationals at junior level. From Canadian football Canadian football to American football As discussed above, Canadian and American football are highly similar gridiron codes. Dozens if not hundreds of players and coaches move back and forth between Canadian and American codes every season and occasionally even within a season, making assembling a list of these players an impossible and largely immaterial task. From Gaelic football Gaelic football is especially vulnerable to code-switching, for reasons outlined by rugby union journalist Hugh Farrelly in 2009: Gaelic football to association football Ladies' Gaelic football to association football Several ladies Gaelic footballers, including All-Ireland finalists, Niamh Fahey and Sarah Rowe, have gone on to represent the Republic of Ireland women's national association football team. Gaelic football to Australian rules football These two codes share many similarities, making switching between them relatively easy. International rules representation for players of both codes is common. The Gaelic Athletic Association prohibits professionalism, meaning that there is a financial lure for players to compete in the professional elite Aussie Rules competitions in Australia. Ladies' Gaelic football to Australian rules football Gaelic football to rugby league Gaelic football to rugby union Up until the mid-1990s, both codes were officially amateur. However, the professionalisation of rugby union has provided a financial lure. NB: Byrne and Duffy both changed codes twice. Each first switched to rugby union as a teenager, then returned to Gaelic football after a long professional rugby career. This entry discusses their Gaelic football careers before their first code switch.