Netball Fiji’s Pacific Series Plans Hit Snag Amidst Leadership Vacuum

Netball Fiji’s bid to participate in the upcoming Pacific Series has been put on hold due to the absence of a chief executive officer, Vivian Koster, who is currently on leave. Despite ongoing discussions with Netball New Zealand, no concrete details have been confirmed.

The Proposed Series

A proposed series between Fiji and New Zealand was initially reported to take place in January or February 2025. However, the lack of a CEO has hindered progress, and Netball Fiji has not responded to questions about their involvement.

Netball New Zealand chief executive Jennie Wyllie had expressed interest in hosting the series to provide international exposure for the Silver Ferns, who are seeking to replace the Nations Cup between England, New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa. The series is also seen as an opportunity to give Pacific national teams a chance to compete against top-level internationals.

PacificAus Series Confirmation

However, Netball Fiji has confirmed their participation in the 5th edition of Netball Australia’s PacificAus Sports Netball Series, set to take place in February 2025. The series will feature Fiji Pearls, Papua New Guinea Pepes, Samoa Tifa Moana, and reigning four-time champions Tonga Tala.

The Australian First Nations Black Swans will also be competing in the series, providing an opportunity for Pacific national teams to face off against top-level talent from Australia. Netball Australia has stated that the diversity of teams participating aims to improve netball’s global standard.

Coach Rikis Looks Forward to PNG Pepes’ International Debut

Papua New Guinea head coach Lua Rikis is excited about her team competing in the series for the first time. “Exposure to international tournaments has helped us rise in the world rankings, and we’re grateful to Netball PNG and Netball Australia for their support,” she said.

First Nations Black Swans Focus on Development

The Australian First Nations Black Swans are also looking forward to participating in the series. “It’s a chance to introduce new players to a culturally safe high-performance environment, demonstrating our skills and building our capacity and skillset,” said Beryl Friday, First Nations engagement manager.

Conclusion

The Pacific Series is set to be an exciting event, with Fiji and Papua New Guinea competing in Netball Australia’s PacificAus Sports Netball Series. While the lack of a CEO has hindered progress on the proposed series between Fiji and New Zealand, there are still opportunities for Pacific national teams to compete against top-level internationals.