Netball: Growing calls to revamp the Cup

The country's eight franchises will meet Netball New Zealand on Monday to discuss the future of the National Bank Cup and the possibility of expanding the competition to two rounds.

The idea of an extended format has been floated for several years but this is the first time an official meeting has been called to discuss its merits.

The current competition - in just its fourth week - is already at the half-way mark.

There appears to be an overwhelming desire from the netball community to see it boosted to two rounds but concerns exist about the financial implications for franchises and the wellbeing of players.

The cost will be one of the deciding factors. Some franchises are already struggling, and it has been reported that one season in the National Bank Cup costs the Southern Sting $700,000.

Attracting sponsors is always difficult and one of their major gripes is that the current competition is too short and they are not getting enough value for money.

The Auckland Waitakere Diamonds have been trying to convince Netball New Zealand for some time that two rounds would be far more appealing to potential sponsors.

For the players, who are not professional and have to work full-time or part-time, another round would add to their already heavy commitments, especially, in years when the Commonwealth Games or world championships are staged.

In an ideal world, player payments would increase to let athletes work only part-time, if at all.

That's unlikely to happen for all National Bank Cup players. But most seem keen on an expanded competition.

Another idea is for the inclusion of Australian teams, in particular the possibility of the top two teams from each country squaring off.

But there's an argument for improving the game on this side of the Tasman before inviting our Aussie rivals in for regular hit-outs.

The country's elite domestic competition is in its eighth year and in need of a revamp.

A double round-robin competition seems the logical way to go but Netball New Zealand will have to consider the costs.