Nathan Bock gets airborne after a hip and shoulder from Sean Cavanagh during the Australia v Ireland International Rules match at the MCG last year. Picture: Colleen Petch
- THE AFL is later today expected to formally announce it has pulled the plug on this year's International Rules series in Ireland.
Irish officials have been informed that the league has backed away from a commitment to play games in Limerick and Dublin in late October.
The Irish media is reporting that the AFL is citing the economic crisis and the cost of touring as the reason for the withdrawal.
The trip has been deferred until 2010, disappointing the Irish.Both GAA President Christy Cooney and Ireland International Rules manager Sean Boylan have expressed their disappointment in the Irish media at the deferral.
Cooney said: "I suppose it's especially disappointing given that we are celebrating our 125th anniversary.
"But we have been in contact with the AFL over the past while and completely understand their situation.
"We have a written commitment from them that they will come to Ireland for the series in 2010, and the Gaelic Grounds and Croke Park will host those two games.
"The deferral comes after long-standing sponsor Coca Cola pulled out of the event. And it continues the stop-start nature of the series, which was put on ice after the violence of 2006 in Ireland."
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