Netball Samoa has expressed sadness at an announcement by the International Netball Federation to cancel the Netball Youth World Cup in Fiji scheduled for later this year.

"The girls were really looking forward to it, but it is not the end of the road for them," said Tusi Faasootau-Ale, the Netball Samoa Executive.

Rosemarie Lome, the organisation's C.E.O added, that she would be looking at the positive aspects of the cancellation; the team's opportunity to have trained at all. 

"They have been training from October, and they still are. Now they are going back to their clubs, and they will highlight some of their skills that were taught here at their training," she said. 

"We will see where the girls at with their training. As Tusi said, it is not the end of the road, but this could be an opportunity for them to continue their training because if they maintain their fitness they will be able to make it the benchmarks for our National squad." 

The international federation's President, Liz Nicholl C.B.E., said it was a difficult decision to make but a necessary one keeping in mind the risks of the pandemic. 

"It is with a heavy heart that we make this decision to cancel the Netball World Youth Cup 2021," she said.

"Our U-21 athletes represent the emerging talent at an international level, and we recognize this announcement will be a significant disappointment for them, for our members, our fans, and indeed for all the netball family. We thank the organizing committee for their considerable efforts thus far in planning for the event and for the ongoing support of the Fijian Government in relation to hosting.”

The governing body took the decision after meeting on 12 March and taking into consideration the risks posed by hosting the event during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. 

Some 20 nations had been scheduled to vie for the cup.