2020 Constellation Cup and Super Netball confirmed
The constellation cup, contested by the Australian as well as the New Zealand national netball teams, is set to take place this year. The Suncorp Super Netball (also known non-commercially as the National Netball League) — the premier professional netball league in Australia — is also confirmed.
The constellation cup is awarded to the team who wins the maximum number of matches between the two is awarded the constellation cup. It does not include the games that are played as a part of the Netball World Championships and Commonwealth Games (CWG).
The original start for 2020 Super Netball was 2 May but the season was suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic. This season will instead start on 1 August 2020. The complete list of fixtures has not been released yet but the 8 teams in the league can look forward to the full set of 60 matches being played.
After the regular domestic season, the Constellation Cup will also be held. Since 2010, the four-match series between Australian Diamonds and Silver Ferns has taken place every year.
Should travel restrictions be lifted depending on the COVID-19 situation, both Netball Australia and Netball New Zealand will start off the series in late 2020. The dates are yet to be confirmed.
Currently, the ANZ Premier, New Zealand’s domestic competition will restart its operations on 19 June this year and is expected to end with a Finals Series on 23 August 2020.
However the Quad Series did not survive this year. Confirmed by Netball Australia, the series, which has been played since 2016 between Australia, New Zealand, England, and South Africa, has been cancelled. The four nations promise to offer their commitment to pin down a date for the next Quad Series.
Netball Australia Executive General Manager of Performance, Stacey West shared, “With great disappointment, and after much deliberation and possible scenario planning, all four participating nations agreed that cancelling the 2020 Quad Series scheduled for September was the most viable option.”
Though the cancellation of the Quad Series leaves Netball Australia with great dismay, Suncorp Super Netball’s CEO Chris Symington is hopeful that the domestic Australian season would return with thrill and excitement.
He is filled with enthusiasm and believes that since the season start date has been locked away, all stakeholders have a date to work towards. The fans can also look forward to the start of the season.
“Our guiding principles throughout this process have never changed, which includes not just the health and well being of the community but the financial viability of our sport. There has been a collective commitment to those principles from each and every member belonging to the system be it, players, teams, partners and broadcasters. We will continue to take this approach as we look to get our season underway,” he added.
Symington further expressed his gratitude to the devoted fans and members who have stuck through thick and thin with their respective teams through challenging times.
