NETBALL Queensland (NQ) can confirm the Northern Rays have withdrawn from this year’s HART Sapphire Series (HSS).
The Rays’ board resolved to withdraw from the 2023 season at a meeting on January 31.
“While it is always disappointing to have circumstances such as these, we acknowledge what must have been an incredibly difficult decision for the Northern Rays board and thank them for their prudence in ensuring this decision was made prior to the commencement of the season,” NQ General Manager Glenn Dennis said.
The decision means this year’s HSS will now run as a seven-team competition with the Rays not to be replaced and a bye to be introduced into the fixture in their place.
Prospective Rays players will retain the opportunity to be signed by another team with the player contracting window for this year’s campaign remaining open to all clubs.
The Rays’ decision to withdraw was despite unanimous support for them to participate in the competition given by HSS clubs during a mid-review of the league which resulted in a revision to the financial model of the competition in August last year.
Clubs had committed to travelling to Townsville for fixtures to ensure the viability of a statewide competition.
The Rays have indicated they plan to continue their participation in the 2023 Nissan State Titles later this year.
Netball Queensland remains focused on the long-term sustainability of the HSS, with the NQ Strategic Plan 2023-2025 having already committed to a feasibility study on the expansion and evolution of the competition prior to the Rays’ withdrawal.
NQ’s ongoing commitment to the development of regional athletes will continue with the launch of an Emerging Country Athlete Program in 2023 to help prepare talented regional athletes for Nissan State Titles and potential selection in underage State Teams.
The 2023 HSS fixture will be released at a later date.
