Blues part-owner Peter Thompson and the Northern Mystics have denied being in talks with Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams to merge the Super Rugby and netball franchises.
This month the Auckland FC investors signed a non-binding term sheet with Netball New Zealand to establish a new domestic netball competition, witheach franchise to be privately owned.
Thompson is part of a private consortium which owns a stake in the Blues, and his Barfoot & Thompson business also sponsors the Mystics.
An RNZ report this week, which was republished by the Herald, cited sources who claimed the Auckland real estate investor has been looking to purchase a licence that would be closely aligned with the Super Rugby franchise.
In a statement to the Herald, Thompson said this was untrue.
“The whole story was untrue and damaging for relationships. I have had no discussions with Ali and Anna. I’m aware ... they are trying to save netball, and I commend them for that, but I am not going to buy [the] Mystics, never was, as I’m an owner of the Blues.
“Our company will continue its sponsorship commitments as a minor sponsor if the Mystics are involved this year.”
Barfoot & Thompson's Peter Thompson denies talking with Anna Mowbray and Ali Williams about purchasing a franchise licence.
Mowbray and Williams have been approached for comment.
The Blues reaffirmed chief executive officer Karl Budge’s statement this week that he could not discuss whether there were any proposals on the table, but said the club were “open to the idea”.
“I can honestly say at present we’re fully focused on Super Rugby,” he said.
Netball NZ, Mowbray and Williams have agreed to a minimum of five teams in next year’s competition, meaning one of the six current franchises – the Mystics, the Stars, the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic, the Central Pulse, the Mainland Tactix and the Southern Steel – could be culled.
The Auckland FC investors will determine the competition format, the team structure and the season dates.
Blues owner Peter Thompson and the Northern Mystics deny they have been in talks about merging franchises. Photos / Photosport
The establishment of a long-form agreement would see the licence for the competition and competing teams held by the investors, with Netball NZ assuming a governance role on a new board tasked with controlling the new league.
Player terms would be determined through collective bargaining with the New Zealand Netball Players’ Association.
Broadcast arrangements for the elite domestic competition from 2027 would sit with the investors with support from Netball NZ.
Nathan Limm has been a journalist with Newstalk ZB and the NZ Herald since 2020. He covered the Netball World Cup in Cape Town in 2023, hosts The Big League Podcast and commentates rugby and netball for Gold Sport.
