The open team will not partake in the Senior Regional Championships and Country Championships, as well as their annual tri-series against Group 6 and Group 16, meaning no players will be eligible for the Greater Southern Stars team or subsequent Country teams.

“The Group 7 board believed in the 2015 campaign, that Group 6 did not force all their players to participate at the highest level and have withdrawn as a form of protest,” Country Rugby League regional manager Kevin Felgate said.

“Their board believe this is the right decision to make but I disagree, as I think it’s detrimental to the game as a whole.

“Even though CRL is extremely disappointed they have taken this avenue, Group 7 won’t automatically be included next season, as there is a process that they have to go through. They will need to apply to the Greater Southern Region and CRL, and and if they are accepted, they will be allowed in but if they’re not, they won’t be afforded the opportunity they once had.”

Last year’s Group 7 and Greater Southern Stars coach Peter Hooper said the discrepancy between the commitment levels of the players, from the respective groups, was the main issue.

“I was let down by the commitment the Group 6 players showed last year,” he said.

“In contrast, the Group 7 players commitment has been second to none in the five years I have been involved with the team, as have the players from Group 16.”

Group 7 general manager Jim McAuliffe confirmed the withdrawal and that the decision be re-evaluated at the end of the year.

“We were disappointed with the lack of commitment from the players in another group and as such, the Group 6 players became disillusioned with the current set-up,” McAuliffe said.

“As a result, we became disillusioned too and decided it was best we sat out this season and wait until the problem was rectified, before re-entering the competition.”

Group 7 will still nominate an under 18s, league tag and junior representative teams.