Brisbane to host Netball trans-Tasman clash

The Brisbane Entertainment Centre will host an Australia versus New Zealand international netball test for the first time in 25 years on Saturday July 22.

Forming part of a two test series, the other will be played at the Sydney Superdome three days later on Tuesday July 25.

In 2004, the Superdome attracted a world record crowd of 11,000 people and the Sydney Test in the series will be the final test on Australian soil between the two nations before next year’s World Championships.

“Netball Australia has been working closely with Netball Queensland for over six months to bring this spectacular contest to Brisbane,” said Netball Australia CEO Lindsay Cane.

“Tickets for the October 2005 trans-Tasman clash sold out in under an hour and we know that our large membership base and strong community right throughout Brisbane will rival this great result.”

Australia will travel to New Zealand to complete the home and away series by playing a three test series against the Silver Ferns.

The three tests in this series will be played in Wellington on October 12, Christchurch on October 14 and Auckland on October 16 before the World Championships nine months later.

Netball New Zealand CEO Shelley McMeeken said that such clashes between Australia and New Zealand always huge interest from netball fans.

“It’s great to be able to offer the netball public a number of opportunities to see the top two ranked teams in the world compete against each other on sides of the Tasman,” she said.

Tickets for the July Test matches will go on sale to both registered netball members and holders of a Commonwealth Bank Trophy season ticket on Wednesday March 1 and to the general public at 9am two days later on Friday March 3.

For ticket information, visit the Netball Australia website at Netball.com.au.