Leeds Rhinos chief Anna Carter keen to keep netball in spotlight

The season was suspended on March 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic, and despite only three rounds of a campaign that runs from February to July elapsing, the decision has been taken to end this year’s competition.

Leeds Rhinos are not due to join Superleague until the 2021 campaign next February, which due to the termination is the next scheduled playing of top-flight netball in this country.

Such a long hiatus could have a catastrophic impact on a sport that is gaining in popularity in this country.

Carter is mindful of the balance England Netball need to strike between the health of players, staff and supporters, and the need to maintain momentum.

But she is urging the governing body to find a solution.

“It’s a massive period for our game,” said Carter, who coached the short-lived Yorkshire Jets and Loughborough Lightning before taking the Leeds Rhinos job.

“The game is in a really great place and I think we all saw this year as one in which the game could grow.

“We’ve seen a rise in participation, there are new companies investing in the sport.

“People are talking about netball in a positive light, and the discussion is an intelligent one. It’s not just people saying ‘isn’t it just like basketball?’.

“People were starting to have proper conversations.

“We’re very encouraged that will keep going, but, with all things considered, we don’t want to be without the sport for too long.”

England Netball chief executive Fran Connolly confirmed yesterday that the governing body is in discussions for its national team to play in a small-scale international tournament with Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in the autumn, which could provide much needed revenue for Superleague.

Connolly said: “It has become clear that large sporting gatherings will unlikely be deemed safe in coming months.

“And after lengthy discussions, we believe it would not be logistically possible or sustainable without crowds to reignite the season, which we are very disappointed to have to announce, but it’s vital we no longer keep teams and players in limbo on the matter.”

She added that it was “absolutely not a decision we’ve taken lightly” and that 10 weeks of attempting to work out a viable alternative had come to nothing.

“I think it’s really sad but I think it was expected,” said Carter, who has been involved in conversations to try and save the season.

“They looked at a few scenarios and models for late summer time, but with the majority of Superleague players being out of contract at the end of July it made the decision inevitable.

“Like a lot of women’s sports we don’t have the massive benefactor who will take it past July. There’s no golden contract to take us beyond that date.

“As time went on it became clearer we weren’t going to fit it into this timescale.

“The players are devastated, and so are the coaches, we’re just hoping that there will be some form of play at some stage this year.

“We’re still in discussions to have a pre-season opener before Christmas. It’s something everyone is keen to do.

“The ANZ is set to return in Australia and New Zealand so netball fans can get their fix there, but we need to do something that serves our audience here in England, and keeps our fanbase engaged.”

The decision to terminate the season was not met with unilateral approval.

Manchester Thunder head coach Karen Greig said she felt England Netball had “gone a bit early with their decision” and her team “desperately wanted to defend our title”.

“Devastated the season has been null and voided. Was really hoping for some kind of resolve when safe to do so!” she added on Twitter.

But her Loughborough Lightning counterpart Sara Bayman said she thought the decision had come at the right time.

“They had to make a decision to give teams and players a level of clarity,” she said.

“I don’t think anything was going to be played this year, certainly with a crowd, and without a crowd teams feel like they are just throwing money down a black hole.”

Rhinos are one of three new teams due to join Superleague in 2021.

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