Premiership netball back but draw not finalised

Netball’s ANZ Premiership will return on June 19, without crowds.

A draw is yet to finalised but Netball New Zealand (NNZ) has confirmed all games in the revised 10-week competition will be played at the Auckland Netball Centre.

NNZ and the ANZ Premiership are working through the final phases of their return to play plan for the six-team competition following Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s announcement yesterday that New Zealand would move to Covid-19 alert level 2 from 11.59pm on Wednesday.

The downgrade on New Zealand’s Covid-19 alert level system means the teams can return to training and play when level two comes into effect.

But it won’t happen immediately.

Teams will only recommence training once safe and compliant training environments are set up and players and staff have been appropriately inducted.

NNZ chief executive Jennie Wyllie said NNZ’s High Performance team and the New Zealand Netball Players Association, plus their respective medical teams, have been working together to ensure a safe timeframe for enabling athletes to return to the court and get the elite domestic competition upand-running in a safe way.

‘‘We have allowed for a fourweek training period for teams to get together, following the guidelines put in place by the Ministry of Health, to prepare for the ANZ Premiership,’’ Wyllie said.

It has taken plenty of creative thinking in planning a return-toplay with a key focus on the welfare of athletes and officials involved, Wyllie said.

‘‘I know there is a lot of interest in seeing our teams back in action but we also need to make sure that we have a robust set of guidelines to ensure the safety of everyone.’’

Playing all ANZ Premiership games in one location helps the league meet the Ministry of Health guidelines for providing a consistent and controlled venue.

Having the competition back up and running has positive flowon effects for more than just the netball community, Wyllie said.

‘‘We are mindful of playing our role in helping to contribute to New Zealand’s economy in this environment and a start-date for this competition means another part of the economy up and running with more people returning to work.’’

All games will be broadcast live.

It is expected the draw will be released shortly.

Meanwhile, Ardern has told community sports they remain on hold at alert level 2.

‘‘Further detail on sport obviously we’re continuing to work through with community sport, in particular – but that’s guidance that’s being developed at the moment,’’ the Prime Minister said.