Feast of international Netball action coming to New Zealand in 2016
Fans are in for a feast of international Netball action in 2016 when the Silver Ferns face the top five nations in the world – Australia, England, Jamaica and South Africa – on home soil.
Announced today by Netball New Zealand Chief Executive Hilary Poole, the action is headlined by SANZEA’s new International Netball Super Series, featuring the Silver Ferns, Australia, England and South Africa, in August.
“The International Netball Super Series will add further excitement to an already impressive line-up of international competition featuring the Silver Ferns, which includes the Constellation Cup and Taini Jamison Trophy,” Poole said.
“It is a win for fans across the country who will be able to see some of the world’s best Netballers on New Zealand soil.”
The International Netball Super Series will see the Silver Ferns open their season with a Vector Arena blockbuster against world number three, England, on Saturday 27 August. The Series then heads to Claudelands Arena in Hamilton (August 31) where they will face South Africa’s SPAR Proteas, before crossing the Tasman for the final match against the Australian Diamonds.
World number four, Jamaica, will tour New Zealand for the first time since 2010 in September. The three-Test New World Netball Series for the Taini Jamison Trophy will see the Silver Ferns face the Sunshine Girls at the Trafalgar Centre, Nelson (September 11), Central Energy Trust Arena, Palmerston North (September 14) and Energy Events Centre, Rotorua (September 17).
The world champion Australian Diamonds will be back on New Zealand shores in late October for the final two Tests of the New World Netball Series for the Constellation Cup. The four-Test Series will see the Diamonds host the first two matches, before they cross the Tasman for the final Tests at Vector Arena, Auckland (October 15) and ILT Stadium Southland in Invercargill (October 20).
The international season will be rounded out with the Fast5 Netball World Series, October 29-30, at Melbourne’s Hisense Arena in Australia.
Silver Ferns 2016 International Calendar
INTERNATIONAL NETBALL SUPER SERIES
Silver Ferns v England Roses
Date: Saturday 27 August
Venue: Vector Arena, Auckland
Silver Ferns v SPAR Proteas (South Africa)
Date: Wednesday 31 August
Venue: Claudelands Arena, Hamilton
Australian Diamonds v Silver Ferns
Date: Sunday 4 September
Venue: TBC, Australia
NEW WORLD NETBALL SERIES FOR THE TAINI JAMISON TROPHY
Silver Ferns v Sunshine Girls (Jamaica)
Date: Sunday 11 September
Venue: Trafalgar Centre, Nelson
Silver Ferns v Sunshine Girls
Date: Wednesday 14 September
Venue: Central Energy Trust Arena, Palmerston North
Silver Ferns v Sunshine Girls
Date: Saturday 17 September
Venue: Energy Events Centre, Rotorua
NEW WORLD NETBALL SERIES FOR THE CONSTELLATION CUP
Australian Diamonds v Silver Ferns
Date: TBC
Venue: TBC, Australia
Australian Diamonds v Silver Ferns
Date: TBC
Venue: TBC, Australia
Silver Ferns v Australian Diamonds
Date: Saturday 15 October
Venue: Vector Arena, Auckland
Silver Ferns v Australian Netball Diamonds
Date: Thursday 20 October
Venue: ILT Stadium Southland, Invercargill
FAST5 NETBALL WORLD SERIES
Date: Saturday 29 – Sunday 30 October
Venue: Hisense Arena, Melbourne