| Founded | 1985 |
|---|---|
| Most recent champion(s) |  Australia (1st Title) |
| Most titles |  New Zealand (2 titles) |
| Official website | www.theworldgames.org |
Netball at the World Games was played on three occasions between 1985 and 1993. New Zealand were gold medallists in 1985 and 1989 while Australia were gold medallists in 1993. [1] [2] [3] World Netball remains a member of the International World Games Association [4]
| Games | Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 [5] [6] [7] [8] | New Zealand | Australia |  Jamaica |
| 1989 [9] [10] [11] [12] | New Zealand | Australia |  England |
| 1993 [13] [14] [15] | Australia | New Zealand | Jamaica |
| Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand Coach: Lois Muir | Australia Coach: Pamela Barham | Jamaica Coach: |
| Rita Fatialofa Tracey Fear Margaret Forsyth Leigh Gibbs Annette Heffernan Karen Henrikson Sandra Mallet Margharet Matenga Rhonda Meads Lyn Parker (c) Waimarama Taumaunu Julie Townsend | Anne Sargeant (c) Julie Francou (vc) Dianne Cleveland Michelle Fielke Monica Pukallis Keeley Devery Roselee Jencke Jane Searle Sue Hawkins Vicki Wilson Debbie Johnson | Avadne Anglin Valerie Balke Pauline Burton Janet Guy Janet Johnson Brenda Khouri Marva Lindsay Patricia McDonald Joan Oldacre Karlene Roese Sharon Taylor |
Source: [5]
| Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand Coach: Lyn Parker | Australia Coach: Wilma Shakespear | England Coach: Betty Galsworthy |
| Sharon Burridge Julie Carter Robin Dillimore Sandra Edge Tracy Eyrl-Shortland Rita Fatialofa Annette Heffernan April Ieremia Ana Noovao Waimarama Taumaunu (c) Julie Townsend Louisa Wall | Nicole Cusack Carissa Dalwood Keeley Devery Michelle Fielke (c) Sally Ironmonger Jenny Kennett Sue Kenny Jennie Longhurst Lisa Wilson Vicki Wilson | Joan Bryan Sheila Bryne (Edwards) Sandra Fairweather Karen Fenlon Anne Fooks Alison Keyte (Spinks) Kendra Slawinski Fiona Murtagh Trudy Papafio Jesslyn Parkes Alison Paton Lucia Sdao Sally Young (Fountain) |
| Gold | Silver | Bronze |
|---|---|---|
| Australia Coach: Joyce Brown | New Zealand Coach: Lyn Parker | Jamaica Coach: Maureen Hall |
| Jenny Borlase Nicole Cusack Carissa Dalwood Keeley Devery Liz Ellis Michelle Fielke (c) Kathryn Harby Sue Kenny Simone McKinnis Shelley O'Donnell Catriona Wagg Vicki Wilson | Julie Carter (c) Tanya Cox Robin Dillimore Margaret Foster Sheryl George Sonya Hardcastle Joan Hodson Bernice Mene Leilani Read Teresa Tairi Carron Topping Linda Vagana | Charmaine Aldridge Angeline Campbell Karen Clarke Connie Francis Ann-Marie Grant Karlene Hamilton Marva Lindsay (c) Jennifer McDonald Patricia McDonald Oberon Pitterson Natalie Tucker Andrea Watson |
Source: [13]
The World Games are an international multi-sport event comprising sports and sporting disciplines that are not contested in the Olympic Games. They are usually held every four years, one year after a Summer Olympic Games, over the course of 11 days. The World Games are governed by the International World Games Association, under the patronage of the International Olympic Committee.
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.
Netball at the Commonwealth Games, together with the Netball World Cup, is one of the two major tournaments in international netball. All the major netball playing nations are members of the Commonwealth of Nations. It was first played in 1990 as a demonstration sport. It has been an official Commonwealth Games sport since 1998. Australia have been the tournament's most successful team, winning four gold medals. New Zealand have won two gold medals. Between 1998 and 2014, Australia and New Zealand contested every final and won every gold and silver medal between them. In 2018, England became only the third team to both reach the final and win the gold medal.
The Scotland national netball team represents Scotland in international netball tournaments such as the Netball World Cup, the Commonwealth Games, the European Netball Championship and the Netball Singapore Nations Cup. Scotland also effectively competes in the Netball Superleague. Between 2008 and 2011 they played as Glasgow Wildcats. Since 2017 they have played as the Sirens. As of 1 March 2022, Scotland was 9th in the INF World Rankings.
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 Northern Ireland national netball team represent Northern Ireland in international netball tournaments such as the Netball World Cup, the Commonwealth Games, the European Netball Championship and the Nations Cup. The team was founded in 1955. Northern Ireland won the Nations Cup in both 2009 and 2015 and were silver medallists at the 2012 and 2017 European Netball Championships. As of 21 July 2019, Northern Ireland are listed 11th on the INF World Rankings. Since 2019 the team has been sponsored by PricewaterhouseCoopers and is sometimes referred to as the PwC Warriors.
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.
Jenny Borlase, also known as Jenny Kennett, is a former Australia netball international. Between 1989 and 1999 she made 70 senior appearances for Australia. She was a member of the Australia teams that won gold medals at the 1991, 1995 and 1999 World Netball Championships, the 1993 World Games and the 1998 Commonwealth Games. At club level, Borlase played for Garville in both the South Australia state league and the Mobil Superleague and for Adelaide Ravens and Melbourne Kestrels in the Commonwealth Bank Trophy league. She also represented South Australia. Borlase was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in 1992. After retiring as a player, Borlase has remained involved in netball as both an administrator and coach.
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.
Noleen Lennon, also known as Noleen Armstrong, is a former Northern Ireland netball international. She represented Northern Ireland at the 2003, 2011 and 2019 Netball World Cups and at the 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth Games. She was also a member of the Northern Ireland teams that were silver medallists at the 2012 and 2017 European Netball Championships. She captained Northern Ireland when they won the 2009 Nations Cup and then again at the 2011 World Netball Championships.
Lyn Gunson, also known as Lyn Parker, is a former New Zealand netball international and a former head coach of both the New Zealand and England national netball teams. She captained New Zealand when they won the 1985 World Games title and coached them when they retained the same title in 1989. In 1989 she was named New Zealand Coach of the Year. Between 1999 and 2008 Gunson also served as head coach and/or director of netball for Team Bath, guiding them to Netball Superleague titles in 2005–06 and 2006–07.
The Netball tournament at the 1985 World Games was played at London's Crystal Palace National Sports Centre from 2 August to 4 August 1985. It was the first time netball was played at a World Games. It featured England, Australia, Jamaica, New Zealand, Northern Ireland and Scotland. With a team coached by Lois Muir and captained by Lyn Parker, New Zealand won the tournament, winning all five matches they played.
The Netball tournament at the 1989 World Games was played in Karlsruhe, Germany between 24 and 27 July. It featured Australia, the Cook Islands, England, Fiji, New Zealand and Scotland. With a team coached by Lyn Parker and captained by Waimarama Taumaunu, New Zealand won the tournament, winning all five matches they played.
The Netball tournament at the 1993 World Games was played at The Hague's Houtrusthallen in the Netherlands between 28 July and 1 August 1993. It featured Australia, Canada, England, Jamaica, New Zealand and Wales. With a team coached by Joyce Brown and captained by Michelle Fielke, Australia won the tournament, winning all five matches they played.
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.
Annette Heffernan is a former New Zealand netball international. Between 1985 and 1990, she made nine senior appearances for New Zealand. She was a member of the New Zealand teams that won gold medals at the 1987 World Netball Championships and the 1985 and 1989 World Games. Her sister, Maxine Blomquist, their cousin, Shirley Langrope, and her twin daughters, Kate Heffernan and Georgia Heffernan, have all played international netball for New Zealand. Annette and Maxine were the first set of sisters to play international netball for New Zealand. Kate and Georgia were the third set.