On the Participation of New Age
On the 15th of August 2026, the University of Limerick welcomed to its playing fields, A team, that statistically speaking, is composed of Palestinian persecutors. Not only are these individual players at least partly responsible for atrocities (or at the very least guilty of turning a blind eye). They were welcomed with open arms by WFDF, and free to fly the flag of ongoing genocide and colonialism in the name of “Inclusivity”.
As an Irish person, living about an hour away from the event, you’ve probably immediately guessed where my loyalties lie. But nonetheless, this post needs to be written, it needs to be in writing the level of disgrace that is currently happening on the fields of Limerick.
What should have been one of the greatest weeks in Irish Ultimate. A small country with a small Ultimate scene, where Ultimate has only been around since the late 90s; to now be hosting the biggest tournament in the world 30 years later is unreal. But this week of supposed joyousness has now been marred by the inclusion of New Age and its players.
I myself am not attending this event. In turn, denying myself a once in a lifetime opportunity. I am under no illusions that my individual boycott will have any effect on the greater conflict, (or this post for that matter) but still, I can’t in good conscience attend this event, and show my support to an organization that is turning a blind eye to one of the worst atrocities in human history.
The hypocrisy is also staggering, considering WFDF banned Russia and all Russian teams from competing at events within nanoseconds of war being declared on Ukraine. Yet, silence when it comes to Israel. An unjust war that has been going on for much longer.
WFDF themselves have also attempted to cover up this inclusion. Moving the games New Age are playing to secret fields, in an attempt to discourage protestors. Also removing all country flags next to team names on the WUCC website. So as not to let anyone in on their little secret they are harbouring an Israeli team. Ultimately this has only led me to conclude that WFDF themselves have Zionists on their board.
As in regards to the individual players, I have seen many arguments that the players themselves are merely innocent bystanders, unfairly conscripted to serve the IDF, lest they face the punishment of landing in prison for even less time then they would have to serve in the IDF itself. But I ask you this : Do you seriously believe a random selection of 22 middle to upper class Israelis, who grew up inundated with Zionist propaganda and social pressure to serve their beloved homeland didn’t gleefully jump at the opportunity? ; Or are they only following orders?
To go into more detail we can pick an example. Jakob Rheins , a Jewish American player on this New Age roster, moved to Israel, and joined the IDF. Am I seriously supposed to believe this adult man, so deep in the zionist sauce that he moves half way across the world to serve in the military, isn’t gleefully serving?, and probably hasn’t contributed in any meaningful way to the persecution of Palestinians?
(Source: https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/article-794364)
At least with Russia you could argue the average Russian themselves had nothing to do with the war. The same can not be said for Israel. The average Israeli is totally complicit in this genocide and to think otherwise is to bury your head in the sand.
I see the argument that none of this is really, truly, confirmed. And that a man is not guilty by a statistic alone, but seriously? I’m supposed to be fine with these players in my country, despite pretty strong statistical evidence that they have contributed to an unjust war, just because it’s not 100% confirmed?
It pains me that the Irish Flying Disc Association shares an acronym with the Israeli Flying Disc Association but it pains me even more to know that the IFDA themselves are gleefully supporting this war and the IDF. Making instagram posts shouting out individual soldiers, and creating a limited edition disc to mark Israel’s great exploits in executing children. Don’t blame them people, those terrorist children had pebbles and all the poor Israelis had to defend themselves were tanks.
At this point, I do lay partial blame at the feet of the organisers themselves. Yes it is ultimately WFDF’s responsibility to ban Israeli representation, but I think the organisers themselves would have had a fairly solid idea that this would not be the case. Going forward I hope they boycott hosting any future WFDF events.
I imagine most of you reading this are White Americans, and have no cultural context of what it’s like to live in the shadow of colonialism. The pain I feel for the Palestinians, and what the majority of Irish feel for the Palestinians is real and deep. It goes beyond meaningless virtue signalling. It’s personal. To imagine that the Palestinians are currently facing a similar situation our ancestors have faced in the past is unbearable. To imagine that my great grandfather, who served in the IRA, would be fighting against the type of men on this New Age roster, who we are now welcoming with open arms to our shores is just downright unbelievable. Not to mention, that a significant portion of our country is still occupied.
It has brought me to tears, to think that not only are these players in Ireland, not only is an Israeli flag flying, not only are the individual players themselves most likely partly responsible for the genocide, not only is WFDF and most in attendance turning a blind eye and attempting to cover it up, but they are playing on fields I have played on myself. Fields that some of the most beloved moments of my life have happened on. They have come to my home, and ruined it. I guess it’s only in their nature.