England Netball is delighted to announce that we will welcome the New Zealand Silver Ferns and the Sunshine Girls of Jamaica in January for a ZEO International Netball Tri-Series as preparations continue ahead of the Commonwealth Games next summer.
In a fantastic treat for netball fans, the three sides will compete in a tri-series before England take on the Caribbean side one final time in a full international fixture.
This will be the first time in three years that New Zealand will have travelled to our shores in the traditional form of the game, with the reigning Commonwealth champions showing their class in a 3-0 Series win last time round.
It hasn’t always been plain sailing in England for the Silver Ferns as a frenetic match went to extra-time in 2009 with New Zealand eventually coming out on top 65-59. A couple of years earlier and England were celebrating a memorable victory over the Ferns, their first taste of success against their opponents in 32 years.
A more familiar opponent in recent times, Jamaica represents no easier a challenge. A fine trio of performances in Kingston saw England overcome the Sunshine Girls when they last met in the Caribbean in April.
However, when they visited us in September 2012 it was a much closer affair as Jamaica secured a win in Liverpool and forced England into a decider at Sheffield in order to complete a 2-1 Series victory.
The fixtures for the ZEO International Netball Tri-Series are as follows;
Tri-Series
Friday 17th January – New Zealand v Jamaica, Wembley Arena Saturday 18th January – England v Jamaica, Wembley Arena Monday 20th January – England v New Zealand, Copper Box Arena
Additional International Fixture
Tuesday 21st January – England v Jamaica, Copper Box Arena
