Most recent season or competition: 2024 Constellation Cup | |
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Sport | Netball |
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First season | 2010 |
No. of teams | 2 |
Most recent champion(s) | ![]() |
Most titles | ![]() |
TV partner(s) | Foxtel (Australia) Sky Sport (New Zealand) |
The Constellation Cup is an international netball competition contested by Australia and New Zealand. The competition features a series of test matches. The two teams have competed for the trophy since 2010. Australia won the inaugural series and have gone on to become the competition's dominant team. [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] Between 2013 and 2019, Australia won the series on seven successive occasions. [1] [7] New Zealand won the trophy for the first time in 2012 and for a second time in 2021. [8] [9] [10] [11]
The Constellation Cup was introduced by Netball Australia and Netball New Zealand with the support of the offices of the Governor-General of Australia and the Governor-General of New Zealand. The concept was inspired by the Bledisloe Cup, a similar competition featuring the Australia and New Zealand national rugby union teams. [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] The Governor-General of New Zealand, Sir Anand Satyanand, stated:
Almost 80 years ago, Lord Bledisloe, one of my predecessors as Governor-General gifted the cup that bears his name and which has come to symbolise rivalry on the rugby field between Australia and New Zealand. The Constellation Cup will provide an equally enduring focus for netballers on both sides of the Tasman and recognise the wide participation in the sport. [14]
On 29 August 2010, both governors-general, Sir Anand Satyanand and Quentin Bryce AC, attended the first test of the inaugural 2010 Constellation Cup series played at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. On 5 September 2010, Anand Satyanand also presented the Constellation Cup to the first winning captain, Australia's Sharelle McMahon. [17]
The Constellation Cup is named after the Southern Cross constellation which is featured on both the flag of Australia and the flag of New Zealand. The trophy itself consists of a 3 kilogram sterling silver cup encrusted with 101 diamonds, which equates to 3.38 carats. The display case is crafted from black maire. Its design was a collaboration between Australian designer Michael Wilson, who made the Cup, and the New Zealand master craftsman Vic Matthews, who made the display case. The base of the trophy is made out of 5,000 year old ancient Murray River red gum and in total it stands at 47.3 cm tall. The transportation box, which houses the Constellation Cup and display case, includes leather from the Distinguished Visitor's chair from the Australian Senate Chamber. [13] [15] [16] [18] The following words are inscribed on the display case of the Constellation Cup:
The great constellation of the southern sky, the Crux, or Southern Cross, shines down on Australians and New Zealanders, and has provided guidance and inspiration to them across the ages. A source of pride to both nations, its bright stars have come to represent achievement, optimism, aspiration and timelessness. Both countries claim the Southern Cross as their own, and it adorns the national flags of each. In netball, there is no fiercer rivalry than that between the Australian Diamonds and New Zealand’s Silver Ferns. The battle for supremacy on the court has been waged since 1938. This Constellation Cup is the perpetual trophy and symbol of that intense rivalry and the respect between these two great netballing nations. Forged from silver, to represent New Zealand’s Silver Ferns, and studded with diamonds to represent the Australian Netball Diamonds, this cup represents the pinnacle of Australian and New Zealand netball. It is a symbol worth fighting for, with the pride of each nation at stake. To hold this cup is a privilege. [16]
Series | Winners | Result | Runners Up |
---|---|---|---|
2010 [16] [19] [20] | ![]() | 2–1 | ![]() |
2011 [21] [22] [23] | ![]() | 3–2 | ![]() |
2012 [8] [9] [24] | ![]() | 2–1 | ![]() |
2013 [25] [26] [27] | ![]() | 4–1 | ![]() |
2014 [28] [29] [30] | ![]() | 4–0 | ![]() |
2015 [31] [32] [33] | ![]() | 2–2 (Note 1) | ![]() |
2016 [34] [35] [36] | ![]() | 3–1 | ![]() |
2017 [37] [38] | ![]() | 4–0 | ![]() |
2018 [39] [40] [41] | ![]() | 3–1 | ![]() |
2019 [42] [43] [44] | ![]() | 2–2 (Note 2) | ![]() |
2020 [45] [46] | (Note 3) | ||
2021 [10] [11] | ![]() | 3–1 | ![]() |
2022 [47] | ![]() | 2–2 (Note 4) | ![]() |
2023 [48] [49] [50] [51] | ![]() | 2–2 (Note 5) | ![]() |
2024 [52] [53] [54] [55] | ![]() | 3–1 | ![]() |
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.
Cathrine Tuivaiti is a netball international who has played for Samoa, New Zealand and Tonga. She represented Samoa at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and the 2007 World Netball Championships, New Zealand at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and Tonga at the 2023 Netball World Cup. During the National Bank Cup era, she played for Northern Force. During the ANZ Championship era, she played for Northern Mystics. She subsequently played for Central Pulse, Adelaide Thunderbirds, Strathclyde Sirens and Severn Stars. In 2022, she was included on a list of the 25 best players to feature in netball leagues in New Zealand since 1998.
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 2016 Netball Quad Series was the second Netball Quad Series series. It was co-hosted by Netball Australia and Netball New Zealand. It featured Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa playing each other in a series of six netball test matches in August and September 2016. With a team coached by Lisa Alexander and captained by Clare McMeniman, Australia won the series, securing the title with a 60–55 win against New Zealand. The series was broadcast live on Fox Sports in Australia, on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom and Ireland, on Sky Sport in New Zealand and on SuperSport.
The first 2017 Netball Quad Series was the third Netball Quad Series series. It was co-hosted by England Netball and Netball South Africa. It featured Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa playing each other in a series of six netball test matches in January and February 2017. It was the first of two Netball Quad Series' played in 2017. The second series was played in August and September. With a team coached by Lisa Alexander and captained by Sharni Layton, Australia won the series, securing the title with a 47–46 win over England. The series was broadcast live on Sky Sports in the United Kingdom and Ireland, on Sky Sport in New Zealand and on SuperSport.
Maia Wilson is a New Zealand netball international. She was a member of the New Zealand teams that won the 2017 Netball World Youth Cup and the 2021 Constellation Cup. She also represented New Zealand at the 2022 Commonwealth Games. Wilson made her senior league debut with Central Pulse during the 2016 ANZ Championship season. Since 2017, she has played for Northern Stars in the ANZ Premiership. In both 2018 and 2019, she was the ANZ Premiership top goal scorer. Wilson was a prominent member of the 2019 and 2022 Northern Stars teams that were ANZ Premiership grand finalists. Ahead of the 2021 season, she was appointed Stars captain. Wilson is also a former New Zealand women's basketball international.
Ameliaranne Ekenasio, previously known as Ameliaranne Wells, is a New Zealand netball international. In 2010 and 2011, Wells represented Australia at under-19 and under-21 levels. In 2014 she switched allegiances to New Zealand. She represented New Zealand at the 2018 Commonwealth Games and was a prominent member of the New Zealand team that won the 2019 Netball World Cup. She captained New Zealand when they won the 2021 Constellation Cup.
The 2019 Netball Quad Series was the seventh Netball Quad Series series. It was hosted by England Netball. It featured Australia, England, New Zealand and South Africa playing each other in a series of six netball test matches in January 2019. The first two matches were played at Liverpool's M&S Bank Arena while the remaining four were played at London's Copper Box Arena.
The 2021 Constellation Cup, also known as the Cadbury Netball Series, was the 11th Constellation Cup series between New Zealand and Australia. The series featured four netball test matches, played in March 2021. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, all four matches were hosted at the Christchurch Arena and only the final match was played with spectators in attendance. The series was won by New Zealand, who defeated Australia by three games to one, winning the Constellation Cup for the second time and for the first time since 2012.
The 2019 Constellation Cup was the 10th Constellation Cup series between Australia and New Zealand. The series featured four netball test matches, played in October 2019. The series finished 2–2, however Australia were declared the winners because, having scored 206 goals compared to New Zealand's 195, they had a better aggregate score over the series. This saw Australia win their seventh successive Constellation Cup series.
The 2011 Constellation Cup was the 2nd Constellation Cup series played between Australia and New Zealand. The series featured five netball test matches. The series was effectively two separate series played before and after the 2011 World Netball Championships. In June 2011, Australia traveled to New Zealand for the New World Series. The Australia team was coached by Norma Plummer and captained by Natalie von Bertouch. New Zealand were coached by Ruth Aitken and captained by Temepara George and Casey Williams. Australia won the opening test before New Zealand leveled the series at 1–1. In October 2011, New Zealand traveled to Australia for the Holden Netball Test Series. This time the Australia team was coached by Lisa Alexander and captained by Catherine Cox. New Zealand also saw a change in their leadership with Waimarama Taumaunu taking over as head coach and Laura Langman taking on the captaincy. After winning the third test, New Zealand led the series 2–1. However, Australia won the final two tests to win the series 3–2.
The 2013 Constellation Cup was the 4th Constellation Cup series played between Australia and New Zealand. The series, also known as the New World Netball Series, featured five netball test matches, played in September and October 2013. The Australia team was coached by Lisa Alexander and captained by Laura Geitz. New Zealand were coached by Waimarama Taumaunu and captained by Casey Kopua. New Zealand won the opening match before Australia leveled the series. After winning the third test, Australia took a 2–1 series lead. Australia clinched the series with a 52–47 win in the fourth test. After winning the fifth test, Australia finished 4–1 series winners.
The 2014 Constellation Cup was the 5th Constellation Cup series played between Australia and New Zealand. The series, also known as the New World Netball Series, featured four netball test matches, played in October 2014. The Australia team was coached by Lisa Alexander and captained by Laura Geitz. New Zealand were coached by Waimarama Taumaunu and captained by Casey Kopua. Australia won the series 4–0. It was the first time since the Constellation Cup was introduced that one team had gained a clean sweep in the series.
The 2015 Constellation Cup was the 6th Constellation Cup series played between Australia and New Zealand. The series, also known as the New World Netball Series, featured four netball test matches, played in October 2015. The Australia team was coached by Lisa Alexander and captained by Laura Geitz. New Zealand were coached by Waimarama Taumaunu and captained by Casey Kopua. Australia won the first two tests and led 2–0 going into the third test. However, New Zealand won the third and fourth tests to level the series at 2–2. Australia were declared the winners because, having scored 202 goals compared to New Zealand's 200, they had a better aggregate score over the series.
The 2016 Constellation Cup was the 7th Constellation Cup series played between Australia and New Zealand. The series, also known as the New World Netball Series, featured four netball test matches, played in October 2016. The Australia team was coached by Lisa Alexander and captained by Clare McMeniman. New Zealand were coached by Janine Southby and captained by Katrina Grant. Australia won the first test before New Zealand leveled the series with a win in the second test. Australia won the third and fourth tests to secure the series 3–1.
The 2017 Constellation Cup was the 8th Constellation Cup series played between Australia and New Zealand. The series featured four netball test matches, played in October 2017. The Australia team was coached by Lisa Alexander and captained by Caitlin Bassett. New Zealand were coached by Janine Southby and captained by Katrina Grant. Australia won all four tests to win the series 4–0.
The 2018 Constellation Cup was the 9th Constellation Cup series played between Australia and New Zealand. The series featured four netball test matches, played in October 2018. The Australia team was coached by Lisa Alexander and captained by Caitlin Bassett. New Zealand were coached by Noeline Taurua and captained by Laura Langman. Australia won the series 3–1.
The 2022 Constellation Cup was the 12th Constellation Cup series between Australia and New Zealand. The series was held in October 2022 across four netball test matches, with two matches each held in New Zealand and Australia. New Zealand were the defending holders of the cup, having defeated Australia by three games to one in 2021.
The 2023 Constellation Cup was the 13th Constellation Cup series between Australia and New Zealand. It featured four netball test matches, played in October 2023. The Australia team were coached by Stacey Marinkovich and captained by Liz Watson. The New Zealand team were coached by Noeline Taurua and captained by Ameliaranne Ekenasio. The second test was Australia's 500th international test match. Australia won the first two tests and led 2–0 going into the third test. However, New Zealand won the third and fourth tests to level the series at 2–2. Australia were declared the series winners and retained the Constellation Cup based on aggregate score.
The 2024 Constellation Cup was the 14th Constellation Cup series between Australia and New Zealand. It featured four netball test matches, played in October 2024. New Zealand had just lost the preceding 2024 Taini Jamison Trophy Series 2–1 to England. However, after winning the first three tests, they eventually won the series 3–1. This was the first New Zealand Constellation Cup win since 2021 and only their third ever in the history of the series. The winning New Zealand team was coached by Noeline Taurua and captained by Ameliaranne Ekenasio. The Australia team were coached by Stacey Marinkovich and captained by Liz Watson. The series was broadcast live on Sky Sport in New Zealand, on Foxtel in Australia and worldwide on NetballPass.