Silver Ferns’ series against Fiji fails to get off the ground

Netball New Zealand head of high performance Stephen Hotter. Photo: supplied
Netball New Zealand head of high performance Stephen Hotter. Photo: supplied
The Silver Ferns’ international window next month has been left open after a proposed series against Fiji fell over.

However, the Silver Ferns will still gather for a training camp in January in a bid to keep the squad together after a successful end to the 2023 international season.

Netball New Zealand had been in discussions with Netball Fiji regarding holding a series in the island nation next month.

But NNZ head of high performance Stephen Hotter confirmed the series would not be going ahead.

"Unfortunately, the plans didn’t come to fruition," Hotter told the Otago Daily Times.

The Silver Ferns have traditionally played a series overseas in January to start the international season.

Earlier this year, they had the Nations Cup in England, against the Roses, Australia and Uganda, and they previously played the Quad Series against the Roses, Australia and South Africa.

The Nations Cup is still going ahead in England in February and will feature the Roses, Uganda, Malawi and South Africa.

It will be one of the biggest international loads the Roses have held in recent years, having played Australia, New Zealand and Jamaica in the past four months.

It is unclear if the Diamonds have secured an international series to start the year either.

Playing against different styles during the next cycle in the build-up to the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next year and the Netball World Cup was beneficial, Hotter said.

"When you reach pinnacle events . . . you play multiple styles in a very compressed time frame.

"Exposure to different styles of play throughout the cycle to help prepare for these unique pinnacle event environments is important," he said.

"I believe our plans to travel to Fiji in January highlights our intent around engaging with the Pacific island nations."

Plans to hold a Silver Ferns training camp in January are being finalised but it was "very important" there was a block to fill the international window.

"We have made some very good progress in a number of areas through this year’s international window and want to continue to build on this to take us forward through the cycle."

The Silver Ferns will still play the Taini Jamison series, and the Constellation Cup, late next year after the ANZ Premiership.

The ANZ Premiership will start in May next year and has been scaled back to 10 rounds.