Latest - The International Netball Federation has cancelled this year's Under 21 World Cup, to be held in Fiji in Decemeber, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Kiri Wills coaching the NZ Under-21 side in 2017. Photo: Netball NZ
New Zealand are the defending champions.
This decision was made by the INF Board at their meeting on March 12th.
INF, in consultation with the Fijian Government, the NWYC Organising Committee (OC), and the 20 netball nations who had qualified to take part, identified significant Covid-19 related challenges surrounding the event.
A comprehensive risk assessment was undertaken, highlighting a number of challenges including welfare of youth athletes; the inability of teams to adequately plan and prepare together for an intense level of international competition, ongoing border closures, travel restrictions including quarantine measures and costs, and the protection of Fiji, a nation which has seen low Covid-19 numbers as of March 2021.
Netball New Zealand CEO Jennie Wyllie said it was a tough decision but one that is understandable given the current global climate.
"This was a very tough decision for INF to make, but one that is ultimately the right one to ensure the safety of all players and management, as well as the population of Fiji," she said.
"We know our New Zealand Under 21 squad are hugely disappointed that they won't have the opportunity to compete at their pinnacle age group event and we will continue to support them."
The New Zealand Under 21 team will now get their opportunity to defend the title in 2025.
Rebels celebrate homecoming with 33-14 win over Waratahs
The Melbourne Rebels celebrated their return home after a tough year on the road with a rousing 33-14 win over the New South Wales Waratahs in a Super Rugby AU match on Friday.
Having been chased out of Melbourne due to repeated COVID-19 outbreaks since March 2020, the Rebels made up for lost time with a pair of sparkling first half tries to cheer rugby-starved fans at the Rectangular Stadium.
"It was pretty special," said inside centre Reece Hodge.
"Hopefully our fans can be proud of us. Bit of a shame with the finish but it's great to be back."
Stand-in captain Matt Toomua scored 18 points and put in a bid for try-of-the-season with a brilliant individual effort three minutes before the break.
The first-five launched from near the halfway mark, charged though a gaping hole in defence then regathered his own chip kick to cross near the right corner.
The Rebels were 23-0 at the break, their biggest halftime lead since joining the wider Super Rugby competition in 2011.
-Reuters
Brown leads at midway point of New Zealand Stroke Play Championship
Lower Hutt's Mark Brown has poked his nose in front after taking advantage of the benign morning conditions at the New Zealand Stroke Play Championship held at Paraparaumu Beach Golf Club.
Brown sits at eight-under for the tournament after a second round of two-under to lead by one over Auckland's Michael Hendry.
After teeing off early this morning, Brown struggled on his opening nine and made the turn at one-over par. However, he heated up on the back nine and made birdies on the 10th, 12th, and 18th holes to sign for two-under and take the clubhouse lead.
Brown says it was a good day at the office.
"It was a bit hard to get going this morning, I was a little stiff and sore which is the nature of my body at the moment. It was a little cold as well, but I managed to get moving as the round went on."