Cup cancelled but Ferns still likely to be tested
Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua knows just how fortunate her side is – it could be in the Australian Diamonds’ situation.
Netball’s annual Constellation Cup series between the world champion Ferns and Australia has been pushed back until early next year, but international netball is still on the cards for Taurua’s side in November.
Netball New Zealand (NNZ) is in talks with England Netball and there is optimism a three-test series could be held in New Zealand in November, pending government approval.
That’s a lot better than what Australia will get in 2020 with the Diamonds not playing any international tests in a calendar year for the first time since 1984.
NNZ and Netball Australia made a joint decision yesterday to postpone this year’s Constellation Cup due to several factors, including Covid-19 requirements and player welfare.
Australia’s Super Netball competition does not finish until October 18 and their national players needed sufficient time to rest and recover after a demanding season. Quarantine requirements on both sides of the Tasman remained in place too, making the process of hosting an event challenging.
Unlike their Diamonds counterparts, the Ferns still have netball in 2020, which Taurua said was a blessing.
‘‘From my perspective as head coach, really disappointed that Con Cup isn’t going through for this year. From a Diamonds perspective, I note they haven’t had any international games this year as well, so that doesn’t probably bode well for them.’’
The Silver Ferns will also contest the Cadbury Netball Series in
Palmerston North over October 21-24 against the New Zealand men, New Zealand A side, and New Zealand under-21s.
They will have two camps before then in Wellington from October 6-8 and October 13-15 involving both the Silver Ferns and Silver Ferns development squads. The last camp will also feature the New Zealand under-21 squad.
NNZ remains hopeful a threetest Taini Jamison Series against England can be confirmed for November.