Netball Next After Silktails, Drua
“It will be a great opportunity for the boys to develop as players in one of the toughest international provincial competitions in the world.
Friday 05 November 2021 | 11:41
Australia High Commissioner to Fiji, John Feakes said that a Fiji- based franchise netball team are likely to compete in an Australian State or in the Trans Tasman Championship.
He revealed this while farewelling the Fijian Drua players at Nadi International Airport yesterday.
The side were on their way to their training base at the Lake Ainsworth Sport and Recreation Centre in Lennox Head, New South Wales, Australia.
“We are looking at netball,” Feakes said.
”There are a couple of Fijian netball players already playing in the Queensland competition.
“So overtime this is something we are looking at carefully.
“How to get an elite Pacific team, in this case a Fijian team into competitions in Australia.
‘So, I think netball is the obvious next sport off the rank.”
He said the Drua set-up is really exciting for Super Rugby, Fiji Rugby, and for all rugby fans in Fiji, Australia and New Zealand.
Feakes said the Drua is bigger than the Kaiviti Silktails enterprise.
“It’s been a long time coming and the boys are finally off,” Feakes said.
“I think it will add to the competition, next year.
“Add some attacking flair, and some of that Fiji rugby that we all love to watch, in other parts of the world.”
“It will be a great opportunity for the boys to develop as players in one of the toughest international provincial competitions in the world.
“So, I hope that over time you’ll see that it is transferred to the Fiji international side as well as skills development.
“This is bigger than the Silktails in a way that it’s at a higher level.”
Feakes added that the Australian and New Zealand teams would be very wary of the Drua side that play a brand of rugby that potentially the Australian and New Zealand teams are not used to.
“That attacking quick feet, quick ball, quick hands it should be very fantastic and I’m really looking forward to it.
“And I know there are some hopes that they will play some home games as well.
“It feels great particularly as High Commissioner but more as a rugby fan.”
