By Sitha Maliwa
The Spar Proteas will travel to New Zealand later this year for a three-Test series against the Silver Ferns, as part of their build-up to the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney.
The highly anticipated series will see the fifth-ranked Proteas take on world number two, New Zealand, in a battle for the prestigious Taini Jamison Trophy. Matches are scheduled for September 21 in Auckland, September 24 in Napier, and September 28 in Invercargill.
Head coach Jenny van Dyk emphasized the importance of facing elite competition in preparation for the upcoming international tournaments. “We learned so much during our tour of Jamaica and England earlier this year, and we need to step up our game,” she said. “It’s important for us to play against the top four teams as often as possible. I’m happy with our core group of players, but we’ll continue to monitor the Telkom Netball League for emerging talent.”
Assistant coach Zanele Mdodana echoed van Dyk’s sentiments, stressing the significance of these fixtures in testing the team’s mettle. “If we want to reach the semifinals in the Commonwealth Games and the World Cup, we need to beat at least one of the top four teams. Therefore, it’s crucial for us to play these teams consistently and frequently,” Mdodana said.
New Zealand head coach Dame Noeline Taurua also expressed her enthusiasm for the series. “We’re excited to host the South African team for the Taini Jamison Trophy. These matches will be a great test for us as we continue to build our squad depth and refine our combinations,” she stated.
Historically, New Zealand has dominated the head-to-head record, winning 36 of the 37 encounters over the past decade. However, the SPAR Proteas have shown their ability to challenge the world’s best, most notably in 2019 when they narrowly lost 62-60 and in their most recent meeting at the 2023 Netball World Cup in Cape Town, which ended in a dramatic 48–48 draw.
The only time South Africa defeated New Zealand was in 1995, with a historic 59-57 victory in Birmingham that propelled them to the final of the Netball World Cup. With the Commonwealth Games just a year away, this series offers the SPAR Proteas a valuable opportunity to test their skills against one of the sport’s powerhouses and continue their climb toward global netball’s top tier. – @NewsSA_Online