Irish Rugby League selectors have decided to axe Shaun Edwards, perhaps bringing to a close the career of one of the game's best players. The 32-year-old London Broncos scrum-half and former Great Britain captain has been left out of the Irish squad for a triangular tournament which begins in October.

Edwards played 36 Tests for Great Britain, the first as an 18-year-old in 1985 but last season declared for Ireland under the grandparents ruling when it was decided that the four home countries would compete individually in next year's World Cup. Edwards played only once for the Irish side, in Tolka Park last year, and scored twice.

Although Rugby Union has been embracing the parentage ruling with vigour, Edwards, despite his enormous experience as a world class player, is evidently far from League's current wish list.