Fresh off their Australian tour, the SPAR Proteas are set to embark on another international journey, this time to England, where they will face the Vitality Roses in a three-test match series. This encounter marks the third meeting between these two nations. They previously clashed in January during the Quad Series, drawing once, and England secured victory in their playoff match.
Notably, they did not face off during the 2023 Netball World Cup in Cape Town. England holds the upper hand in their matchups this year, having yet to lose against South Africa. The SPAR Proteas departed for England on Monday. Netball South Africa President, Cecilia Molokwane, spoke about the significance of facing teams ranked higher.
"It is very important for us to play teams that are ranked above because this will serve two great purposes," she stated. "One being that we can gauge how far or close we are to being one of the best, and secondly, we can work our way to improving our points on the table and push our way into the top four."
Molokwane highlighted the importance of international exposure and experience for players, saying it sharpens their skills and makes them more competitive. The three-test series is scheduled between the 5th and 10th of December, with the first match taking place in Manchester and the last two in Nottingham.
Before the series, the SPAR Proteas will engage in a practice match against Scotland on the 3rd of December. The confirmed team for the trip to the United Kingdom includes: Khanyisa Chawane, Boitumelo Mahloko, Kamogelo Maseko, Phumza Maweni, Bongiwe Msomi (Captain), Rolene Streutker, Refiloe Nketsa, Karla Pretorius, Lefébre Rademan, Jeanté Strydon, Nicola Smith, Ané Retief, Owethu Ngubane, Ine-Marí Venter and Nicholé Taljaard.
The match schedule is as follows: Game 1 will be next week Tuesday, December 5, at the AO Arena in Manchester at 21:00 Central African Time (CAT). Game 2 will follow on Saturday, December 9, at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham at 19:00 CAT. Game 3 will be played on Sunday, December 10, at the Motorpoint Arena in Nottingham at 16:00 CAT. Fans can catch all the action on the pay TV channel SuperSport Variety 4, which will broadcast all the matches live.
