Sport

England netballer 'stranded' in NZ after win over Silver Ferns

13:28 pm on 28 September 2021

Having helped England to a rare series win over the Silver Ferns, veteran defender Geva Mentor is now stranded in New Zealand.

England, the Commonwealth Games champions, enjoyed a 2-1 series win over the world champs in Christchurch last week.

Mentor, 37, says she is "effectively stranded" until November after the cancellation of England's test series in Australia.

"I can potentially get out of New Zealand to anywhere in the world, but I can't get to Australia," she said.

"Even then, I face going via Fiji after a night there and then back to Sydney."

England defender Geva Mentor is struggling to get back to Australia for the Super Netball season. Photo: Photosport

Mentor is based in Melbourne where she is captain of Collingwood Magpies in the Super Netball competition.

Quarantine-free travel from New Zealand to Australia is currently suspended and airlines have dramatically reduced the number of available flights between the two countries.

The England squad had originally been due to fly from New Zealand to Australia on an exempt charter flight, but will instead return home via Singapore on Wednesday.

That decision came after confirmation "evolving Covid-19 restrictions" in Australia had forced the series to be cancelled.

Mentor, who is unvaccinated, faces missing large parts of the Super Netball season while she stays with family here.

"The rest of the girls can of course get on a flight back home to England, but that's no good for me and I'm the only one who is effectively stranded here," Mentor told the BBC.

"I've been in conversation with other sporting governing bodies and seeing if there's any other teams stuck here trying to get back into Australia.

"I've also been trying to reach influencers, politicians, entrepreneurs - anyone really who might have a spot on a plane I can bag to make it back.

"I really don't mind which port I get back to in Australia, I just need to get back there and have plenty of time to book into quarantine, prepare for pre-season and then the Commonwealth Games next year."

-BBC