 During a weak period for Tyrone Seniors in the late 1990s , Canavan represented Ireland in the inaugural International Rules Series in 1998 against Australia . In 1999 , he was named vice @-@ captain of the team for the tour to Australia , and Ireland came away convincing winners , with Canavan scoring eleven points in the first test in Adelaide , South Australia . In 2000 , In the first test Australia 's Jason Akermanis gave Canavan a bloody nose 20 seconds into the game . Canavan was sent off in the second test , after fighting with Akermanis . He was banned for one match , which wouldn 't be played until the next year , so he ruled himself out of the next series . In five tests Canavan scored 37 points , becoming one of the few Irish players to leave their mark on the Australian supporters . 
