The Origin Australian Diamonds will set out to reclaim the Constellation Cup this October when they host the New Zealand Silver Ferns in Brisbane and Cairns, before crossing the Tasman.
The Diamonds will host the Silver Ferns at Brisbane Entertainment Centre on Wednesday 13 October, before travelling north to Cairns Convention Centre on Sunday 17 October.
It will mark the first time the Diamonds have played a test match in Cairns.
The series will then be played out in New Zealand, with matches at Auckland’s Spark Arena on Thursday 21 October and Wellington’s TSB Arena on Sunday 24 October.
One of netball’s greatest rivalries, Australia and New Zealand will complete for the 12th Constellation Cup.
When the two sides last met in March in New Zealand, the Silver Ferns reclaimed the Constellation Cup for the first time in eight years – winning the series 3-1.
All four matches were closed to the public due to the coronavirus pandemic, but crowds are set to return this October.
Origin Australian Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich was delighted to announce the series would be played in Australia, before moving to New Zealand through the Trans-Tasman travel bubble.
“It’s fantastic to have international netball return to Australia,” Marinkovich said.
“The last result was disappointing, but our new group took a number of learnings out of the series and we will continue to grow as we set our sights on bringing the Constellation Cup back to Australia.”
“It has been a long time since netball fans have been able to watch live international netball in Australia, and we hope to have a huge home crowd advantage in Brisbane and Cairns.”
Marinkovich and national selectors Anne Sargeant OAM and Michelle Wilkins will announce the playing squad in late August.
Netball Australia has partnered with Tourism and Events Queensland to bring world-class netball to Brisbane and Cairns.
Tourism Tropical North Queensland Chief Executive Officer Mark Olsen said he was delighted to have international netball return to Cairns after successfully hosting Suncorp Super Netball League matches in 2020.
“It will be the first international sporting event to be held at the newly refurbished Cairns Convention Centre,” Olsen said.
“The Constellation Cup adds to the growing number of national sporting events and training camps, including the current Australian Dolphins Swim Team camp, being held in Cairns.
“Together these events demonstrate that our region has the capability to host national and international sporting events where the athletes can enjoy training and competing in a spectacular nature-based destination.”
As naming rights partner of the Origin Australian Diamonds, Origin’s Head of Retail Jon Briskin said it was an exciting announcement for netball fans.
“We are thrilled for all the players and fans that the Origin Australian Diamonds are set to play their first matches on Australian soil in well over a year,” Briskin said.
“It has been such a long wait and we look forward to the excitement of watching netball at the highest level and cheering on our national team against our great rivals New Zealand.”
Tourism and Sport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said this is one netball series Queenslanders won’t want to miss.
“The Origin Australian Diamonds versus the New Zealand Silver Ferns is one of the greatest rivalries in international netball.
“It’s a rivalry that provides two options to catch the action, in Brisbane, and the newly refurbished Cairns Convention Centre.
“This is a great win for international sport and tourism, and we can host events like this because of the great work of Queenslanders in managing the health impacts of the pandemic.”
Constellation Cup October Dates and Locations
Wednesday 13 October at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre
Sunday 17 October at the Cairns Convention Centre
Thursday 21 October at Spark Arena in Auckland
Sunday 24 October at TSB Arena in Wellington
Australian Constellation Cup tickets
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