Netball postponement shuts down NZ sport

The coronavirus pandemic has stripped the New Zealand top-flight sport scene bare after the domestic netball championship was postponed for two weeks.

The ANZ Premiership had been the only competition still operating on Kiwi soil heading into this weekend but Netball NZ announced the halt to play on Friday, with a possible return target set down for early April.

After completing the opening round of games last weekend, rounds two and three will be put back following the New Zealand Government's announcement on Thursday that indoor mass gatherings can number no more than 100 people.

All other top level sport in the country had already been cancelled or postponed, along with community sport at virtually every level.

New Zealand Rugby is hopeful of creating a domestic-only competition for its five Super Rugby teams, to fill the void left by the indefinite suspension of the main competition.

Two professional teams - the Warriors and Wellington Phoenix - are basing themselves in Australia to remain in the NRL and A-League competitions respectively.