A joint statement from the three schools was put out on Tuesday morning announcing the "devastating decision" to cancel the 98th edition of the Astley Cup "to keep our students and our staff safe".

"Whilst we understand that this will be a distressing time for many of our students, we acknowledge that our paramount concern is for the safety of students and staff within our communities," the statement said.

The statement was signed by Denison principal Ken Barwick, Dubbo College principal Marisha Blanco, and Orange High School principal Chad Bliss.

"We are committed to ensuring that we do everything we possibly can to keep this long-standing tradition going and we are now setting our sites on the 99th Astley Cup to be played in Term 2, 2021," they said.

"On behalf of our entire school communities, we unreservedly apologise for the distress this decision may have on your children or your families. It is a situation which we just could not avoid.

"Whilst we are unable to compete this year, we look forward to next year and in 2022 for the 100th anniversary celebration of these wonderful events."

Schools will work with students and parents who have paid relevant fees to refund students, with each school to get in contact over coming days.

The first edition of the Astley Cup began in 1923, and had only been cancelled three times before 2020 - in 1924 when it couldn't be organised, 1931 due to the Great Depression and 1940 due to World War II.