Netball Queensland has begun work to ensure the development of the Queensland Sapphires is not impacted, after Netball Australia today confirmed the Australian Netball Championships would not go ahead in the planned format.
The championships were due to be held in Traralgon from 13 – 19 September, but will be decentralised and replaced by a hub-based model.
Netball Queensland High Performance Manager, Demelza Fellowes, revealed potential plans that could take place in the coming weeks.
“We are committed to providing an opportunity for our Queensland Sapphires to gain the critical high performance development and competition that the ANC was to provide,” she said.
“We are working closely with the Sunshine Coast Lightning and other states who may have capacity to formulate a competitive program of some kind for those set dates.”
Netball Queensland can confirm no plans are approved at this stage, though Fellowes is confident the Queensland Sapphires will be ready to hit the ground running when they are.
“We are thrilled with the way our Queensland Sapphires have been preparing, “she said.
“And we look forward to seeing the players out on court this weekend with their respective clubs for the HART Sapphire Series semi-finals.”
Netball Australia Executive General Manager Performance, Stacey West, further explained the decision to opt for a decentralised format this year.
“As a result of government restrictions, the unpredictability of snap border closures and state lockdowns, the delivery of a centralised tournament in Victoria is no longer a viable option,” West said.
Netball Australia has confirmed an ANC winner will not be declared for 2021.
More details on the decentralised program will be communicated once confirmed.
