West Coast Fever defensive duo Courtney Bruce and Sunday Aryang have been named in a 12-strong Australian Diamonds team to compete at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
The Diamonds, who are ranked number one in the world, will complete training camps in Perth and Manchester prior to the Birmingham Games starting next month.
The Games will be held from Thursday 28 July to Monday 8 August, with the Netball competition to be conducted from Friday 29 through to Sunday 7 August at the NEC Arena.
Commonwealth Games Australia Team Chef de Mission Petria Thomas OAM said she is looking forward to seeing this star-studded team take to the courts in Birmingham.
“Congratulations to the 12 netballers chosen to represent the Australia Team at the Birmingham Games,” Thomas said.
“Australia has been fortunate to enjoy a tremendous history in netball at the Commonwealth Games, and I know this Australian Team, led by captain Liz Watson will be ready to be bold, brave and brilliant in Birmingham.”
Australian Diamonds head coach Stacey Marinkovich is excited for the squad to start working towards the Birmingham Games.
“Selection for any international series – especially the Commonwealth Games – is never easy,” Marinkovich said.
“We have such great depth of talent in Australian netball, across every position on the court, and I congratulate the 12 athletes who have been selected to compete at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.
“I’m incredibly excited to work with this group of athletes and build on our connection both on and off the court, starting with a training camp in Perth next month.”
Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan has congratulated the 12 athletes selected and said she hopes they can continue to build on Australia’s Games success.
“On behalf of Netball Australia, we congratulate the 12 athletes selected in the Australian Diamonds Commonwealth Games team,” Ryan said.
“This opportunity only comes around every four years, and we are all keen to see this team carry on Australia’s proud history in netball at Birmingham.”
Australian Netball Team – Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games:
Sunday Aryang (West Coast Fever)
Kiera Austin (Melbourne Vixens)
Ash Brazill (Collingwood Magpies)
Courtney Bruce (West Coast Fever)
Gretel Bueta (Queensland Firebirds)
Paige Hadley (NSW Swifts)
Sarah Klau (NSW Swifts)
Cara Koenen (Sunshine Coast Lightning)
Kate Moloney (Melbourne Vixens)
Liz Watson (captain) (Melbourne Vixens)
Jo Weston (Melbourne Vixens)
Stephanie Wood (vice-captain) (Sunshine Coast Lightning)
Fast-paced, athletic and skilful, netball at the Commonwealth Games features the world’s best teams and is one of the most popular and highly-anticipated sports. The 12 teams in Birmingham are divided into two groups of six. Each team plays every other team in their pool in the group phase. The top two teams in each pool advance to the semi-finals. The two semi-final winners play off for gold, while the two losers play for bronze.
Netball was first played at the Commonwealth Games as a demonstration sport at the Auckland 1990 Commonwealth Games, comprising a single match between Australia and New Zealand. The sport joined the full sport programme at the Kuala Lumpur 1998 Commonwealth Games.
England caused a major surprise when they defeated Australia 52-51 in the final at Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. Until then, Australia and New Zealand had played every gold-medal match at the Commonwealth Games.
