A total of eight teams are set to compete in the national Academy Tournament which Netball Fiji will be hosting next week.
The tournament will serve as a selection platform for the Baby Pearls under-21 extended squad that will be preparing for the Netball World Youth Cup Qualifier next year.
It also signifies the conclusion of the 2023 National Academy Training campaign.
Teams competing in the tournament include two teams from Australia, the Victoria Institute of Sport, and the South Australia Institute of Sport.
Meanwhile, athletes in the National Academy will be divided into five teams while there will be an additional team comprising current Fiji Pearls squad members who are 21 years and under and overseas-based players who have indicated their interest in representing Fiji.
Netball Fiji chief executive officer Vivian Koster said the purpose of the Academy Tournament is to conclude the National Academy 2023 and to identify the 21&Under squad for the upcoming Netball World Youth Cup Qualifiers.
“We recognise the effort our academy athletes have put in this year and want to see them in a competition setting,” she said.
“This will allow Netball Fiji to select a 21&U squad and prepare for the Netball World Youth Cup.”
“We are also happy to have the Victorian and South Australian Institutes of Sports 19&U teams in the competition as it will be an opportunity for our academy athletes to test themselves.”
The tournament will kick start next week Tuesday to Thursday.
