UK Sport

New style Netball to be held in the UK

Manchester will host the 2009 Netball World Series
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Mairi Irvine 12 January 2009

The World Netball Series will take place at the MEN Arena from the 9 -11 October after a great deal of development over the last 12 months to create a netball competition with the ‘wow’ factor - supported by UK Sport's Lottery funded World Class Events Programme.

In the space of three hours spectators will witness some of the world’s greatest netball - a fast, ferocious and vibrant competition, with the aim of raising the profile of the sport and attracting new participants and spectators.

With a number of innovative rule changes the new format will test the fitness, technical ability and tactical awareness of the best players in the world. Each game will be played over four 6-minute quarters and promises to be high energy and an awesome spectacle.

The series will involve the world’s top six netball nations, England, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Samoa and Malawi, in association with UK Sport, IFNA, Manchester City Council, England Netball and the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA).

Clare Hartley, UK Sports Events Consultant said: “We are excited to be supporting this new fast paced version of netball in Manchester later this year. A key Commonwealth Games sport, this initiative will be one of the most important events on the international netball calendar."

Molly Rhone, IFNA President, said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for us to further showcase our sport to the world and we are eagerly looking forward to October when we welcome the top six teams to Manchester. It is a moment in history for us, as it is the first time the best teams from all around the globe will gather to compete in a new faster format of netball.

“This event promises three days packed with action, excitement and drama. We envisage that everybody who experiences a match, either on TV or at the MEN Arena will be truly entertained and will love this new international competition."

Paul Clark, CEO of England Netball said: “The increased activity in the netball calendar will inject new life into netball and I am delighted that the first Series will take place in the UK. The World Netball Series will be a competition played by strong, confident and inspirational women to motivate and empower young people to get active across the world.”

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