This year's proposed International Rules series is in danger of collapse due to a scheduling dispute between the GAA and the Australian Football League.
Both organisations had agreed in principle to revive the series - shelved last year due to the violent nature of the 2006 matches - but an inability on behalf of the Australians to commit to a two-match series looks like scuppering any such plans.
At this stage, the AFL are only willing to fulfil a standalone Test against the tourists in October but, given the distances involved, the GAA are refusing to travel unless the normal two-match series is arranged.
GAA director general Paraic Duffy insisted today that unless both matches were confirmed with specific dates and venues within ten days the series would be parked for another year. That leaves the AFL until Friday, May 23rd to respond.
The AFL are believed to favour a one-off Test in Melbourne's MCG to form part of their 150th anniversary celebrations.
While they do not object to a second test in theory, it is understood the difficulties in securing a second venue -the dates coincide with the Rugby League World Cup - and the logistics of squeezing the match into their own hectic calendar have been problematic.