The AFL is continuing to assess the viability of another exhibition game shortly after announcing an Indigenous All-Stars match in February next year.

The much-loved International Rules Series – played against Ireland – was a consistent feature from the late 1990s to the mid-2010s, with the last test played in 2017.

The hybrid game originated back in 1984, involving a combination of Australian Football and Gaelic rules, inspiring a relationship between the two nations that has seen a litter of Irish stars enter the AFL competition over time.

It was reported by AFL Media’s Cal Twomey that powerbrokers from the AFL and Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) have met in the hope of reviving the game after an eight-year hiatus.

“The AFL’s continued interest in landing talents from Ireland was understood to be part of the discussions, with possible International Rules concepts also considered,” Twomey said.

In previous test series, the AFL All-Australian squad has generally been the side selected to face Ireland, with one exception in 2013 when an All-Star Indigenous team was chosen.

There had been discussions about reprising the exhibition match in 2020 and 2022, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the series was cancelled.

Last week, the league confirmed the return of the Indigenous All-Stars game for 2025 for the first time in nearly a decade, with there being no other representative game on the AFL calendar for the game’s biggest names.