Netball is a ball sport played on a rectangular court by two teams of seven players. The primary objective is to shoot a ball through the defender's goal ring while preventing the opposing team from shooting through their own goal ring. It is one of a few sports created exclusively for women and girls and remains primarily played by them, on indoor and outdoor courts, especially in schools and most popularly in the Commonwealth of Nations.
The New Zealand national netball team, commonly known as the Silver Ferns, represent Netball New Zealand in international netball tournaments such as the Netball World Cup, the Commonwealth Games, the Taini Jamison Trophy, the Constellation Cup, the Netball Quad Series and the Fast5 Netball World Series. They have also represented New Zealand at the World Games. New Zealand made their Test debut in 1938. As of 2023, New Zealand have been world champions on five occasions and Commonwealth champions twice. They are regularly ranked number two in the World Netball Rankings.
The England national women's netball team, also known as the Vitality Roses, represent England in international netball competition. England are coached by Jess Thirlby, and are currently captained by Natalie Metcalf. As of 1 July 2020, the team is ranked third in the INF World Rankings. England have won one silver and several bronze medals at the World Cup and have won one gold medal at the Commonwealth Games.
Netball is the most popular women's team participation sport in Australia. In 1985, there were 347,000 players. In 1995, there were over 360,000 Australian netball players. Throughout most of Australia's netball history, the game has largely been a participation sport; it has not managed to become a large spectator sport. In 2005 and 2006, 56,100 Australians attended one to two netball matches. Of these, 41,600 were women. 46,200 attended three to five netball matches, with 34,400 of those spectators being women. 86,400 attended six or more netball matches, with 54,800 spectators being female. Overall, 188,800 people attended netball matches, with 130,800 being female. In 2005 and 2006, netball was the 10th most popular spectator sport for women with Australian rules football (1,011,300), horse racing (912,200), rugby league (542,600), motor sports (462,100), rugby union (232,400), football (212,200), harness racing (190,500), cricket (183,200) and tennis (163,500) all being more popular. The country set an attendance record for a Netball match with a record crowd of 14,339 at the Australia–New Zealand Netball Test held at the Sydney Super Dome game in 2004.
The Australia national netball team, also known as the Australian Diamonds, represent Netball Australia in international netball tournaments such as the Netball World Cup, the Commonwealth Games, the Constellation Cup, the Netball Quad Series and the Fast5 Netball World Series. They have also represented Australia at the World Games. Australia made their Test debut in 1938. As of 2023, Australia have been World champions on 12 occasions and Commonwealth champions on 4 occasions. They are regularly ranked number one in the World Netball Rankings.
The Netball World Cup Sydney 2015 (NWC2015) was the 14th edition of the INF Netball World Cup, the premier competition in international netball. It was held from 7–16 August, in Sydney, Australia, which secured hosting rights after defeating a rival bid from Manchester, England. Matches were played at Allphones Arena and Netball Central. Sixteen nations competed at the championships, including the top six teams from the 2011 World Netball Championships in Singapore. After two rounds in which teams competed in pools of four, Australia, New Zealand, England and Jamaica contested the semi-finals. Australia defended its 2011 title against New Zealand by a narrow 58–55 victory. The final at Allphones Arena was attended by 16,752 people, a world record for any netball game. Malawian shooter Mwai Kumwenda was the player of distinction.
Joyce Alice Brown is a former Australia netball international and national team head coach. Brown captained Australia at the inaugural 1963 World Netball Championships, winning a gold medal. She later coached Australia at the 1975, 1983 and 1991 World Netball Championships and at the 1993 World Games, guiding the team to four gold medals. Brown never lost a World Netball Championship match, either as a player or coach. In 1992 she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia. Between 1999 and 2002, Brown served as head coach of Melbourne Phoenix in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league, leading them to the premiership in 2000 and 2002. Brown also served as a netball umpire and sports administrator.
Lorna Jean McConchie was a former Australia netball international and national team head coach. In 1938 McConchie played for Australia in their first international match against New Zealand. McConchie was later head coach when Australia won the inaugural 1963 World Netball Championships. In 2009 she was inducted into the Australian Netball Hall of Fame.
Wilma Joyce Shakespear, previously known as Wilma Ritchie, is a former Australia netball international, Australia head coach and sports administrator. As a player, she represented Australia at the 1963 World Netball Championships, winning a gold medal. Shakespear coached Australia at the 1971, 1979 and 1987 World Netball Championships and at the 1989 World Games. Shakespear also served as head netball coach at the Australian Institute of Sport. Shakespear is married to Peter Shakespear, a former Australian rower.
Margaret Elaine Caldow, also known as Marg Caldow, is a former Australia netball international and a former England head coach. She represented Australia at the 1963, 1975 and the 1979 World Netball Championships, winning three gold medals. She captained Australia at the 1975 and 1979 tournaments. Between 2004 and 2007, Caldow served as head coach of England. She was the England head coach at both the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the 2007 World Netball Championships. Between 2013 and 2018, Caldow served as Lisa Alexander's assistant with Australia. In 1978 Caldow was awarded the British Empire Medal and in 2009 she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia.
Judith Ann Blair is a former New Zealand netball player. She played 19 international matches for the New Zealand team between 1960 and 1967, including captaining the side to victory at the 1967 World Netball Championships.
Pamela Joy Barham was a New Zealand netball player and coach. She played 12 Tests for the New Zealand netball team, and captained the side at the 1963 World Netball Championships, where they were runners-up. She later moved to Australia, and coached the Australian netball team in 1985 and 1986.
Colleen Natalie Falloon is a former New Zealand netball player. She played 11 international matches for the New Zealand team between 1960 and 1963, including at the 1963 World Netball Championships. More recently she has been active in Masters athletics, winning multiple national marathon titles, in the W60, W65, W70 and W75 categories.
Elva Violet Simpson was a New Zealand netball player. She played five international matches for the New Zealand team at the 1963 World Netball Championships, where they finished second to Australia.
Rebecca Chaplow, also known as Ripeka Chaplow, is a New Zealand mental health nurse and former netball player. She played four international matches for the New Zealand team at the 1963 World Netball Championships, where they finished second to Australia. She was inducted into the Māori Sports Hall of Fame in 2006.
Betty McNamara played netball for New Zealand in the 1963 World Netball Championships.
Lesley Harris was a New Zealand netball player who represented her country at the inaugural 1963 World Netball Championships
England 
Australia (1st title)
New Zealand 
