The Junior Kangaroos will not be travelling to Rarotonga to fill the place of the absent Kiwis team.

Cook Islands Rugby League contacted the Australian Rugby League (ARL) with the offer to include the Junior Kangaroos in the October 6 match instead of the Kiwis team.

CIRL international director Kevin Iro said the ARL was eager to send the Junior Kangaroos side for the match, despite the short notice, but negotiations with the New Zealand Rugby League fell through on the issue.

The ARL was pushing the NZRL to hand over its airfares originally meant to transport the majority of the Kiwis team from Australia to the Cook Islands.

A large proportion of the Kiwis team was due to fly out from Australia for the Rarotonga test match on Monday, October 3.

The ARL was reportedly seeking to use the now unneeded seats for its Junior Kangaroos side.

With the option of playing the Junior Kangaroos now off the table, CIRL is pushing ahead with plans to field a team made up of players from the tri-series competition, which kicks off tonight.

The tri-series combined team will see Cook Islanders from here, Australia and New Zealand play alongside each other against the Kukis international team.

The match will still be held on October 6 at the BCI Stadium.

Iro said the game would pit the best rugby league players the Cook Islands has against each other.

The Junior Kangaroos will not be travelling to Rarotonga to fill the place of the absent Kiwis team.

Cook Islands Rugby League contacted the Australian Rugby League (ARL) with the offer to include the Junior Kangaroos in the October 6 match instead of the Kiwis team.

CIRL international director Kevin Iro said the ARL was eager to send the Junior Kangaroos side for the match, despite the short notice, but negotiations with the New Zealand Rugby League fell through on the issue.

The ARL was pushing the NZRL to hand over its airfares originally meant to transport the majority of the Kiwis team from Australia to the Cook Islands.

A large proportion of the Kiwis team was due to fly out from Australia for the Rarotonga test match on Monday, October 3.

The ARL was reportedly seeking to use the now unneeded seats for its Junior Kangaroos side.

With the option of playing the Junior Kangaroos now off the table, CIRL is pushing ahead with plans to field a team made up of players from the tri-series competition, which kicks off tonight.

The tri-series combined team will see Cook Islanders from here, Australia and New Zealand play alongside each other against the Kukis international team.

The match will still be held on October 6 at the BCI Stadium.

Iro said the game would pit the best rugby league players the Cook Islands has against each other.