The Island's top under-16 netballers will again be able to play against top UK opposition

JERSEY has been given the go ahead to once again compete in English League Netball.

Although the senior Jersey team was forced to withdraw from the South West League after the 2008 season because of a lack of funding, it coincided with a rule change which ended the hopes of the Island’s under-16 team continuing to challenge in their regional league.

That rule, which stated that those contesting league netball must be from one club and not a region, is still in place. However, Jersey Netball Association officials have been given the go ahead by England Netball to enter a team of its best players rather than the top club side.

The news is good for the under-16s who will once again battle it out against teams from the South West this season, but not so for the senior side who missed the deadline for entry into the preliminary play offs for this year’s event.

JNA president Jackie Nelson said: ‘Unfortunately the only thing for the seniors in the new season will be the inter-insulars but it’s great news for the U16s who will enter as a team called PwC from their School of Excellence.’