Netball Fiji is preparing to showcase its local talent on the international stage, with Crest Fiji A set to represent the country at the inaugural PacificAus Sports Netball Challenge in Brisbane, Australia, from the 23rd to the 28th of November.

The tournament, which will be hosted at Nissan Arena, will feature five Pacific nations, including Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands.

The competition aims to provide Pacific-based players with valuable international exposure while creating opportunities to develop their skills and progress towards higher levels of the sport.

Netball Fiji Transition Oversight Committee Chairperson Vasiti Vugakoto says selecting players from local domestic competitions provides an important pathway for emerging athletes to showcase their abilities and demonstrate their readiness for national-team programmes.

She says the tournament will also allow coaches to assess emerging talent, evaluate the depth of local netball and identify players who could represent Fiji in future regional and international competitions.

Crest Fiji A will open its campaign against Papua New Guinea in Round One, with the team looking forward to making the most of the opportunity.

The challenge is organised by Netball Australia in partnership with the Australian Government through the PacificAus Sports programme.

The initiative aims to strengthen sporting relationships across the Pacific while creating sustainable development opportunities for athletes, coaches, umpires and technical officials.

For Fiji, the Brisbane tournament will provide an important platform for its locally based players to gain international experience, build confidence and demonstrate the growing depth of talent within the country’s domestic netball system.