27 Jun 2015

Tactix bid for two imports rejected

10:33 am on 27 June 2015

The Mainland Tactix have had their bid rejected to again have two overseas players for the next year's trans-Tasman netball competition.

The Tactix who finished last in the ten team competition this year, winning just one of their 13 games, had applied to the competition organisers for exemption to contract a second import player.

Teams are generally only allowed one.

However the Tactix' application was not supported by Netball New Zealand.

The chief executive of Netball Mainland Brigit Hearn said the decision was made as NNZ didn't want to block a domestic player pathway.

The Tactix' two import players this year were former Australian interntional Demelza Fellowes, who has announced her retirement from the sport, and Malawi shooter Mwai Kumwenda.

Mwai Kumwenda of the Tactix tries to keep the ball in the court watched on by Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic defenders Casey Kopua and Leana de Bruin.

Kumwenda will be the only overseas player for the Tactix next year Photo: Photosport

"We are clearly not at all happy with the decision but it is one that we have to live with and we will continue to look to develop our young talent," Hearn says.

The decision means all 10 ANZ Championship teams will only have one import player in 2016.

Mainland Tactix head coach Sue Hawkins says the decision is disappointing.

"I think the decision lacks recognition of the contributions and experience an import player brings both on and off the court," she said.

"However, we will look internally to develop our youngsters which will take some time."

Four players have been confirmed so far for next year Kumwenda as the club's import player, midcourter Nicola Mackle, shooter Gemma Hazeldine and new recruit Olivia Coughlan.

More signings are expected to be announced this week.