Constellation Cup

Last updated

Constellation Cup
Most recent season or competition:
2023 Constellation Cup
Constellation Cup Logo.png
Sport Netball
First season 2010
No. of teams2
Most recent
champion(s)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Most titlesFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia (11 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]

Contents

History

Background

29 August 2010; Sir Anand Satyanand and Quentin Bryce AC, attending the first test of the inaugural 2010 Constellation Cup series played at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre. Gg-constellation-cup-2010-events-214.jpg
29 August 2010; Sir Anand Satyanand and Quentin Bryce AC, attending the first test of the inaugural 2010 Constellation Cup series played at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre.

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]

Trophy

5 September 2010; Sir Anand Satyanand, presents the Constellation Cup to the Australia captain, Sharelle McMahon Constellation Cup Presentation.jpg
5 September 2010; Sir Anand Satyanand, presents the Constellation Cup to the Australia captain, Sharelle McMahon

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

SeriesWinnersResultRunners Up
2010 [16] [19] [20] Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 2–1Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
2011 [21] [22] [23] Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 3–2Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
2012 [8] [9] [24] Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 2–1Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
2013 [25] [26] [27] Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 4–1Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
2014 [28] [29] [30] Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 4–0Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
2015 [31] [32] [33] Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 2–2 (Note 1) Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
2016 [34] [35] [36] Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 3–1Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
2017 [37] [38] Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 4–0Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
2018 [39] [40] [41] Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 3–1Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
2019 [42] [43] [44] Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 2–2 (Note 2) Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
2020 [45] [46] (Note 3)
2021 [10] [11] Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand 3–1Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
2022 [47] Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 2–2 (Note 4) Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
2023 [48] [49] [50] [51] Flag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia 2–2 (Note 5) Flag of New Zealand.svg  New Zealand
Notes

Sources: [1] [51]

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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.

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