International rugby league has been dealt a savage blow after the traditional Australian Schoolboys fixture, a showcase of the game's best young talent, has been axed because the New Zealand Rugby League can't afford to send a team over.
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The first Australian Schoolboys game was played in 1972 and been a regular annual event since 1979, when the green and golds sent a squad to England which included Ben Elias and Andrew Farrar.
Since then it has been the best pointer towards whether talented teens make it into first grade, with a plethora of NRL stars over the past four decades coming through the system.
Jackson Hastings, Jayden Nikorima and Sione Mata'utia are among the 2013 participants, while David Klemmer, Jake Trbojevic, Junior Paulo and Kane Elgey are just some of the graduates from the class of 2011. The clashes have also been a platform to launch the careers of great Kiwi players, with Issac Luke, Manu Vatuvei and Greg Eastwood starring in a 2005 encounter in Melbourne.
The NZRL accepted an invitation from Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League to send across a team to play two matches - at Suncorp Stadium on September 27 and then a second encounter on Kougari Oval, Wynham, on October 2.
However, the time-honoured tradition is over after NZRL CEO Phil Holden wrote to ASSRL president Grant Edwards, informing his pupils weren't coming due to financial constraints.
The development is an embarrassment for the game, given the NRL has pledged to increase the standing of international fixtures after negotiating the first part of the new broadcast deal. It's a further blow given the proximity to the next World Cup and the fact that the senior Kangaroos won't participate in a senior international during the entire off season.
The Australian team was recently named and Edwards had to break the news to the players and their parents in a letter that was also obtained by Fairfax Media.
"The Executive of Australian Schoolboys Rugby League wish to apologise to you for lack of information at this stage regarding the Tests we had planned against New Zealand in September and October.
"We have received the following advice only recently from the CEO of New Zealand Rugby League. In an email on 5th August, Phil Holden informed me that … It is with deep regret that I need to advise you that New Zealand Rugby League(NZRL) has withdrawn from this year's two test matches with the Australian Schoolboys in Queensland, October 2015. I understand that this news and decision will be devastating for all of those involved, from players to team support and to you personally. I regret this,particularly given the history between us but I have no option.'
"This was entirely unexpected, and these circumstances are beyond our control …"
The NRL has been trying to find a way resurrect the matches but it's understood the NZRL have been firm in their stance. Attempts to contact the NZRL and Holden were unsuccessful.
Edwards said the recent meetings were so close that the two-match series had been split 1-1 for almost two decades.
"In his email on August 5 [Holden]he said the NZRL financial position is such that they can no longer participate in the international exchange," Edwards said.
"I'm devastated for our boys. I saw them in the dressing sheds after they were picked in the team and the pride they had in being selected for Australia was palpable. You could see in their eyes they were so keen to put that green and gold jersey on and play for Australia.
"We're very disappointed for the New Zealand kids who are in the same boat and would have been keen to represent their nation as well."
While Australia are the World Cup holders, the Kiwis have sparked a renewed interest in international football by beating the Kangaroos in their past four encounters, including the Four Nations final. The Kiwis are now the top-ranked side in world football, but there are fears their Schoolboys side will now be consigned to history.
