This Saturday, the 19th November, marks International Men’s Day and so we wanted to take the opportunity to celebrate some of this year men’s netball achievements.
Whilst men’s netball has been taking place for many years, in many of our Member countries, this year more eyes than ever have been on the sport as we have experienced many world firsts, and as we have continued on our journey to embrace men and boy’s netball through collaboration and support, as set out in our 2021 Strategic Plan.
Here are just some of 2022’s achievements we wanted to share today…
Use the links below to click through to the different stories:
Men's & Women's Franchise Teams Align in New Zealand for a Curtain Raiser
Northern Mystics and Northern Stars men’s teams played in a curtain raiser in the ANZ Premiership (New Zealand) on the 2nd April 2022.
This was a world first for men’s franchise teams to align with women’s teams and be shown live on Sky Sport New Zealand.
The match finished 55 – 45 to Mystics.
For more information, click here.
International fans, outside of New Zealand, can re-watch the match on NetballPass here.
Photo credit: Thomas Hamill Photography
Americas Netball Held Inaugural Male Championships
World Netball Regional Federation, Americas Netball, hosted their inaugural Americas Netball Male Championships between the 31st August – 5th September in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
The teams competing included the hosts St Vincent & the Grenadines, as well as South Africa, Grenada, Jamaica and Antigua & Barbuda.
Jamaica were crowned winners of the inaugural championships, after they remained unbeaten.
Photo credits: Mr Robertson, Henry
Trans-Tasman Series
The Constellation Cup series between Australia and New Zealand female teams, featured two curtain-raiser televised matches between the two countries men’s teams.
This was the first time a joint tour like this had taken place in netball.
The three-match series was level going into the final match, after Australia won the first match 48 – 64 and New Zealand won the second match 56 – 46.
Australia eventually went on to win the series with a 57 – 61 win over New Zealand in the final match.
To find out more about the event, click here.
Australia vs England Men
For the first time in history, England Men played Australia Men in an international netball match in Australia.
This was the ‘England Thorns’ first ever international match.
It was Australia that came out on top winning 27 – 73.
Photo credits: Nigel Owen
FAST5 Netball World Series Included Men for the First Time
Finally, and most recently, for the first time in history three men’s teams, New Zealand, Australia, and England, competed at the World Netball FAST5 Netball World Series in Christchurch, New Zealand.
New Zealand won the men’s Netball World Series on home soil as they beat Australia Men 25 – 29.
To find out more, click here.
Photo credits: Michael Bradley Photography
