International netball bosses are hopeful there will be some certainty around the future of the game's spin-off version -- the Fast5 World Series -- by the end of the week.
The tournament returns to Auckland's Vector Arena this weekend for third and final time, with Netball New Zealand ruling out an extension of their current contract. England hosted the event for three years from 2009-2011 prior to it coming to Auckland.
International Netball Federation (INF) president Molly Rhone said the governing body are now in negotiations with another nation -- thought to be South Africa -- to take on hosting duties for a further three years and she is hopeful of being able to make an announcement on the tournament's future at the end of the weekend. The INF board meet in Auckland tomorrow, where the hosting rights for the next Fast5 will likely feature high on the agenda.
"We are talking to another country right now, it is probably too early to say who that country is. We'd had some very fruitful discussions and I hope after the board meeting we will have a more definitive statement," said Rhone.
Rhone said if the INF are unable to get a deal with another nation finalised this week, she is still confident the Fast5 concept can survive.
"If it doesn't come off with another country then we would certainly keep Fast5 as an INF product where we would run it similar to our World Cup where we would have countries bid to host it. But it would be our preference to go to another country for three years, I think three years is a good time."
Netball NZ chief executive Hilary Poole said she is proud of the way the shortened version of the game, played over six-minute quarters, has taken off over the past three years since New Zealand took over the running of the competition.
"We've been really grateful to the INF for entrusting Netball New Zealand to develop the Fast5 brand. It has come a long way in the last three years and we believe it is a fantastic future as has got a great future."
This year the tournament, featuring the top six nations in the world, has been condensed from three days into two. The Fast5 Ferns have won the tournament the past two years and will be looking to complete the trifecta on Sunday.
By Dana Johannsen of the New Zealand Herald
