Netball NZ confirm later start to 2018 ANZ Premiership

NZ Herald

27 Sep, 2017 01:04 AM2 mins to read

Bailey Mes will be back in action for the Mystics in next year's ANZ Premiership after the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Photo / Photosport

Netball NZ have confirmed the late start date to next year's ANZ Premiership, with the domestic competition to be put on hold until after the Commonwealth Games.

The 2018 national league will get underway on May 6 - three weeks after the conclusion of next year's tournament on the Gold Coast - to prevent any disruption to the national programme.

The Commonwealth Games is the Ferns' pinnacle event for 2018.

The ANZ Premiership will launch its 2018 season in Palmerston North with a "Super Sunday" round, which sees all six franchises in action at the same venue. Christchurch and Auckland will host the other two Super Sunday rounds next season.

The competition will follow the same format as this year's inaugural season, featuring 13 rounds before culminating in a two-game Finals Series involving the top three teams.

Netball New Zealand chief executive Jennie Wyllie said she hopes to see the competition continue to grow in 2018.

"As we saw this year there's a real excitement about this competition and fans love being able to watch New Zealand's top talent compete week in and week out," she said.

"The ANZ Premiership produced some exceptional netball last year and developed some amazing new home grown talent who we are now seeing step up to the international stage. I can't wait to see more."

The matches will be held on Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays, with all games broadcast live on SKY.