THE Proteas netball team has been invited to take part in the Quad Series in Australia in October, a tournament that will help with their preparation for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
They will play against reigning world champions, Australia, second-ranked New Zealand and England, who finished third in the 2011 World Championships in Singapore.
South Africa's Mantombazana (The Girls) finished at the championships where Sport and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula attended the event.
In terms of the rules and regulations of the tournament, each team will play three matches in Australia and three in New Zealand.
Netball SA president Mimi Mthethwa is excited that they have been invited to be part of this inaugural tournament.
"Since (the World Championships in) Singapore top teams have recognised that we can be very competitive. They understand that South Africa is on the way back to the top."
Mthethwa said it was important for Mantombazana to play against stronger teams regularly as part of the preparations for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next year.
"Playing in this kind of tournament, against the best in the world, means the Spar Proteas have opportunities to learn and grow. We can't keep on playing against Malawi and teams that are our equals or weaker. The only way to achieve our goal of being one of the top three is to keep playing the very best."
Netball Australia CEO Kate Palmer said the format of the tournament, with three double-headers in Australia followed by three in New Zealand, was a first for a tournament of this kind.
"We're thrilled to be co-hosting an international tournament that features four of the world's top six test nations," said Palmer.
Proteas to play Quads in Oz
THE Proteas netball team has been invited to take part in the Quad Series in Australia in October, a tournament that will help with their preparation for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.
They will play against reigning world champions, Australia, second-ranked New Zealand and England, who finished third in the 2011 World Championships in Singapore.
South Africa's Mantombazana (The Girls) finished at the championships where Sport and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula attended the event.
In terms of the rules and regulations of the tournament, each team will play three matches in Australia and three in New Zealand.
Netball SA president Mimi Mthethwa is excited that they have been invited to be part of this inaugural tournament.
"Since (the World Championships in) Singapore top teams have recognised that we can be very competitive. They understand that South Africa is on the way back to the top."
Mthethwa said it was important for Mantombazana to play against stronger teams regularly as part of the preparations for the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow next year.
"Playing in this kind of tournament, against the best in the world, means the Spar Proteas have opportunities to learn and grow. We can't keep on playing against Malawi and teams that are our equals or weaker. The only way to achieve our goal of being one of the top three is to keep playing the very best."
Netball Australia CEO Kate Palmer said the format of the tournament, with three double-headers in Australia followed by three in New Zealand, was a first for a tournament of this kind.
"We're thrilled to be co-hosting an international tournament that features four of the world's top six test nations," said Palmer.
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