Netball in Australia and New Zealand has entered an exciting era with the development of a Trans-Tasman competition. The new Tasman Trophy Netball League commenced in 2008 bringing together five teams from Australia and five teams from New Zealand to compete in an action-packed 17-week season from April until July.

Teams
Australia will be represented in the inaugural Tasman Trophy competition by five teams:

• New South Wales Swifts, coached by Julie Fitzgerald
• Queensland Firebirds, coached by Vicki Wilson
• Adelaide Thunderbirds, coached by Jane Woodlands
• Melbourne Vixens, coached by Julie Hoornweg
• West Coast Fever, coached by Sue Gaudion

They will be joined by five teams from New Zealand;

• Canterbury Tactix, coached by Helen Mahon-Stroud
• Southern Steel, coached by Robyn Broughton
• Northern Mystics, coached by Yvonne Willering
• Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic, coached by Noeline Taurua
• Central Pulse, coached by Kate Carpenter

An announcement of the team brands, names, colours and naming rights sponsors is expected soon.

Draw
The draw will feature a 14-week Tasman round robin competition during which each team will host 6 or 7 home games. Each Australian team will play each of the Australian teams twice and the New Zealand teams once, while the New Zealand teams will play their New Zealand counterparts twice and each of the Australian teams once.

Finals Series
The Tasman Trophy competition will culminate in three weeks of finals in July 2008. During this series the top four teams will play two semi-finals. The minor premiers for the season will host the major semi-final (1 vs. 2) while the third ranked will host the minor semi-final (3 vs. 4). The preliminary final will then be hosted by the loser of the major semi-final against the winner of the minor semi-final and a week later, the Grand Final will be hosted by the winner of the major semi-final against the winner of the minor semi-final.

Broadcast
Fox Sport in Australia and Sky TV in New Zealand will have live or delayed coverage of 69 games of the Tasman Trophy competition. Fans will be treated to 4 to 5 matches per week played across Australia and New Zealand with a majority of games played on Saturdays, Sundays and some Mondays. Both channels will also broadcast a special mid-week magazine-style netball program focussing on the Tasman Trophy.

Management
The Tasman Trophy competition is managed under a separate joint venture between Netball Australia and Netball New Zealand. The office is located in Auckland, New Zealand under the management of General Manager Tony Holding. The Tasman Trophy competition is developing its own branding which will be seen across all venues.
For more information, keep your eyes posted to the official website www.tasmantrophy.com, due to be launched later in 2007. 

Courtesy Netball Australia

Updated 5th February 2008