Netball South Africa Diamond Challenge

{{Short description|International netball tournament hosted by South Africa}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2023}}

{{Use South African English|date=October 2023}}

{{Infobox Sports league

| title = Netball South Africa Diamond Challenge

| current_season = 2022 SPAR Diamond Challenge

| logo =

| pixels =

| caption =

| sport = Netball

| founded =

| inaugural = 2012

| teams =

| country = South Africa

| champion = {{nb|South Africa}} (7th title)

| most_champs = {{nb|South Africa}} (7 titles)

| TV = SuperSport

| website = [https://web.archive.org/web/20241219053249/https://netball-sa.co.za/category/diamond-challenge/ Diamond Challenge Archive]

}}

The Netball South Africa Diamond Challenge is an international netball series hosted by Netball South Africa. The series traditionally features South Africa playing a series of test matches against mostly visiting African national teams.{{cite web|url=https://netball-sa.co.za/south-africas-track-record-at-the-africa-netball-cup/|title=South Africa's track record at the Africa Netball Cup|publisher=netball-sa.co.za|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211108102734/https://netball-sa.co.za/south-africas-track-record-at-the-africa-netball-cup/|archive-date=8 November 2021|date=8 November 2021|access-date=27 October 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://netball-sa.co.za/category/diamond-challenge/|title=Diamond Challenge Archive|publisher=netball-sa.co.za|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241219053249/https://netball-sa.co.za/category/diamond-challenge/|archive-date=19 December 2024|access-date=21 August 2024}} South Africa won the inaugural 2012 series.{{cite web|url=https://gsport.co.za/sa-down-malawi-at-diamond-challenge/|title=SA Down Malawi at Diamond Challenge|publisher=gsport.co.za|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211017211338/https://gsport.co.za/sa-down-malawi-at-diamond-challenge/|archive-date=17 October 2021|date=18 August 2012|access-date=27 October 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.up.ac.za/netball/news/post_1736086-jubilant-proteas-dethrone-malawi-queens-47-43|title=Jubilant Proteas dethrone Malawi Queens 47-43|publisher=www.up.ac.za|date=19 August 2012|access-date=27 October 2024}}

History

=COSANA Games=

The Diamond Challenge series effectively replaced the COSANA Games, a series of tournaments hosted by the Confederation of Southern African Netball Associations which were held biannually up until 2009.{{cite web|url=http://www.todor66.com/others/Netball/Africa/Women_WQ_2006.html|title=Women Netball COSANA Games 2006 World Qualification Blantyre (MWI)|publisher=www.todor66.com|access-date=20 August 2024}}

=President's XII=

As well as entering their senior national team in the Diamond Challenge series, Netball South Africa has also entered an invitational team known as the President's XII. It is effectively a South Africa B team. In 2016, with a team featuring Ine-Marí Venter and Marlize de Bruin, they finished second in the group stage. However, as an unranked team they are not allowed to play in the final of an official tournament.{{cite web|url=https://netball-sa.co.za/diamond-challenge-teams-announced/|title=Diamond challenge teams announced|publisher=netball-sa.co.za|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240523124027/https://netball-sa.co.za/diamond-challenge-teams-announced/|archive-date=23 May 2024|access-date=23 October 2024|date=29 September 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://netball-sa.co.za/spar-proteas-step-up-a-gear-2/|title=SPAR Proteas step up a gear|publisher=netball-sa.co.za|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706001817/https://netball-sa.co.za/spar-proteas-step-up-a-gear-2/|archive-date=6 July 2022|access-date=23 October 2024|date=5 October 2016}} This happened again in 2022 and they were eventually placed third.{{cite web|url=https://netball-sa.co.za/south-africa-crowned-2022-spar-diamond-challenge-champs/|title=South Africa Crowned 2022 SPAR Diamond Challenge Champs|publisher=netball-sa.co.za|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221126173641/https://netball-sa.co.za/south-africa-crowned-2022-spar-diamond-challenge-champs/|archive-date=26 November 2022|access-date=21 August 2024|date=26 November 2022}} In 2018, with a team coached by Jenny van Dyk and featuring Lefébre Rademan and a returning Marlize de Bruin, they effectively finished second overall.{{cite web|url=https://netball-sa.co.za/8892-2/|title=South African Netball sides named ahead of Diamond Challenge|publisher=netball-sa.co.za|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706013359/https://netball-sa.co.za/8892-2/|archive-date=6 July 2022|access-date=20 October 2024|date=28 November 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://netball-sa.co.za/two-out-of-two-for-sa-presidents-xii-at-diamond-challenge/|title=Two out of two for SA President's XII at Diamond Challenge|publisher=netball-sa.co.za|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706013146/https://netball-sa.co.za/two-out-of-two-for-sa-presidents-xii-at-diamond-challenge/|archive-date=6 July 2022|access-date=20 October 2024|date=28 November 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://netball-sa.co.za/proteas-wrap-up-diamond-challenge-title-defence/|title=Proteas wrap up Diamond Challenge Title Defence|publisher=netball-sa.co.za|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200407120918/https://netball-sa.co.za/proteas-wrap-up-diamond-challenge-title-defence/|archive-date=7 April 2020|access-date=21 August 2024|date=1 December 2018}}

Results

=3rd v 4th Playoff=

class="wikitable collapsible" border="1"
style="background:white;" | Tournament

! style="background:white;" | 3rd

! style="background:white;" | Score

! style="background:white;" | 4th

! style="background:white;" | Host city

2012{{cite web|url=https://netballscoop.com/2012/08/weakened-south-africa-triumphs-malawi-diamond-netball-challenge-final/|title=Weakened South Africa triumphs over Malawi in Diamond Netball Challenge Final|publisher=netballscoop.com|date=19 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181221182949/https://netballscoop.com/2012/08/weakened-south-africa-triumphs-malawi-diamond-netball-challenge-final/|archive-date=21 December 2018|access-date=23 August 2024}}{{nb|Botswana}}45–36{{nb|Zambia}}Pretoria
2013{{nb|Zambia}}{{ref|1|(Note 1)}}Port Elizabeth
2015{{cite web|url=https://kawowo.com/2015/06/19/uganda-she-cranes-finish-3rd-at-diamond-netball-challenge/|title=Uganda She Cranes Finish Third At 2015 Diamond Netball Challenge|publisher=kawowo.com|access-date=9 October 2024|date=19 June 2015}}{{nb|Uganda}}53–52{{nb|Zambia}}Margate
2016{{cite web|url=https://www.teamsa.co.za/job-well-done-says-coach-plummer-as-proteas-win-challenge/|title=‘Job well done’, says coach Plummer as Proteas win Challenge|publisher=www.teamsa.co.za|access-date=2 July 2024|date=2 October 2016}}{{cite web|url=https://netball-sa.co.za/south-africa-win-netball-diamond-challenge/|title=South Africa win Netball Diamond Challenge|publisher=netball-sa.co.za|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706015719/https://netball-sa.co.za/south-africa-win-netball-diamond-challenge/|archive-date=6 July 2022|access-date=21 August 2024|date=6 October 2016}}{{flagicon|South Africa}} President's XII54–54{{nb|Uganda}}Durban
2018{{nb|Zambia}}{{ref|2|(Note 2)}}{{nb|Zimbabwe}}Seshego, Polokwane
2021{{nb|Namibia}}{{ref|3|(Note 3)}}Cape Town
2022{{flagicon|South Africa}} President's XII49–43{{nb|Zimbabwe}}Pretoria

=Finals=

class="wikitable collapsible" border="1"
style="background:white;" | Tournament

! style="background:white;" | Winners

! style="background:white;" | Score

! style="background:white;" | Runners up

! style="background:white;" | Host city

2012{{nb|South Africa}}47–43{{nb|Malawi}}Pretoria
2013{{cite web|url=https://gsport.co.za/young-spar-proteas-retain-diamond-league/|title=Young SPAR Proteas Retain Diamond League|publisher=gsport.co.za|date=31 October 2013|access-date=29 October 2024}}{{nb|South Africa}}59–45{{nb|Zimbabwe}}Port Elizabeth
2015{{cite web|url=https://www.teamsa.co.za/plummers-proteas-shine-to-win-diamond-challenge/|title=Plummer's Proteas shine to win Diamond Challenge|publisher=www.teamsa.co.za|access-date=2 July 2024|date=21 June 2015}}{{nb|South Africa}}40–35{{nb|Malawi}}Margate
2016{{nb|South Africa}}68–34{{nb|Zimbabwe}}Durban
2018{{cite web|url=https://www.teamsa.co.za/proteas-wrap-up-diamond-challenge-title-defence/|title=Proteas wrap up Diamond Challenge title defence|publisher=www.teamsa.co.za|access-date=2 July 2024|date=1 December 2018}}{{nb|South Africa}}{{ref|2|(Note 2)}}{{flagicon|South Africa}} President's XIISeshego, Polokwane
2021{{cite web|url=https://gsport.co.za/proteas-win-spar-challenge-with-match-to-play/|title=Proteas Win SPAR Challenge with Match to Play|publisher=gsport.co.za|access-date=17 October 2024|date=31 March 2021}}{{cite web|url=https://netball-sa.co.za/clean-sweep-for-the-spar-proteas-in-the-spar-challenge-series/|title=Clean Sweep For The SPAR Proteas In The SPAR Challenge Series|publisher=netball-sa.co.za|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210331175808/https://netball-sa.co.za/clean-sweep-for-the-spar-proteas-in-the-spar-challenge-series/|archive-date=31 March 2021|access-date=17 October 2024|date=31 March 2021}}{{nb|South Africa}}{{ref|3|(Note 3)}}{{nb|Uganda}}Cape Town
2022{{nb|South Africa}}54–36{{nb|Scotland}}Pretoria

;Notes

  • {{note|1|1}} In 2013, only three teams entered, so there was no 3rd v 4th playoff.
  • {{note|2|2}} In 2018, there was no play-offs or finals. Some sources credit Zambia with second place.
  • {{note|3|3}} In 2021, there was no play-offs or finals.

References

{{Reflist|3}}

{{Netball South Africa Diamond Challenge}}

{{South Africa national netball team}}

{{Netball in South Africa}}

{{International netball competitions}}

{{Netball in Africa}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Diamond Challenge}}

Category:International netball competitions hosted by South Africa

Category:2012 establishments in South Africa

Category:Netball competitions in Africa

Category:South Africa national netball team series

Category:Recurring sporting events established in 2012