The International Rules Series between Ireland and Australia will not take place this year but will return for a two-game series Down Under in 2017, the GAA has announced.
The hybrid game organised by the Association and the Australian Football League has been a one-off game over the last two years but will revert to the traditional two-game format for home and away series, and an exhibition series in the USA. The timing of the Irish and US events will be confirmed later this year.
The viability of the code had been openly discussed following a facile 101-point aggregate victory for Ireland over an Indigenous Australian side in 2013 but it has been retained following a revival in attendances and interest.
Ireland are the current holders of the Cormac McAnallen Cup after beating the tourists 56-52 at Croke Park in November.
GAA president Aogán Ó Fearghail said: "It was not possible to organise a two-game series in Australia this year and for that reason we have decided to take a long-term view of the series and press pause for 2016.
"The success of the last two series has been based on the ability of both teams to attract the finest talent to their ranks making for close, competitive and entertaining games.
"The aim of the series continuing in this vein is shared by both organisations and we believe these aspirations are best served by the staging of two games in a given year.
“We have committed to three Series for the moment, beginning in Australia in 2017 with the timing for the Irish and US events to be confirmed later in the year as to whether they should take place in consecutive years, every second year or some other combination.
"We look forward to working with the AFL in the planning of future series from 2017 onwards."
Hawk-Eye will be used for the first time in Semple Stadium for Tipperary v Cork in the Munster SHC on 22 May #GAA pic.twitter.com/UyZXYh0aeN
— RTÉ GAA (@RTEgaa) May 1, 2016
Meanwhile, the GAA also confirmed that the Hawkeye score detection system will be used for first time in Thurles for the Munster championship meeting of Tipperary and Cork on 22 May.
Up to now, the video system, which clarifies whether a shot has gone wide or through the posts, had only been installed in Croke Park.
