Canterbury have reportedly excluded their players from playing in the final NSW City-Country Origin match.

The Bulldogs have prioritised NRL fixtures as selected players would otherwise face the prospect of playing two games in four days, News Corp Australia reports.

After this year’s edition of the historic representative match in Mudgee on May 7, the club will meet North Queensland on Thursday, May 11 in round 10.

Bulldogs chief executive Raelene Castle told News Corp the decision was made to protect players’ welfare.

The NRL has scrapped the annual City-Country clash beyond 2017 after deciding it could no longer be squeezed into the schedule.