2023 Netball World Cup Explained

Host Country:South Africa
Num Teams:16
Winners:Australia
Count:12
Second:England
Third:Jamaica
Scoring Leader: Jhaniele Fowler (302 goals)
Matches:60
Attendance:120000
Prev Season:2019
Next Season:2027

The 2023 Netball World Cup (formerly known as the Vitality Netball World Cup 2023[1]) was the sixteenth staging of the Netball World Cup, the premier competition in international netball, contested every four years. The tournament was held from 28 July to 6 August[2] at the International Convention Centre in Cape Town, South Africa, its first time in Africa.[3]

This marked the tournament's 60th anniversary, as it was founded in 1963.

Sixteen nations contested for the title and after two group stage rounds; England, Jamaica, Australia and New Zealand all made it to the semi-finals, with England qualifying for the final for the first time. Australia would take home their 12th title after defeating England 61–45. Jamaica finished in third place, after defeating New Zealand. Host nation South Africa finished sixth overall.[4]

Organisation

The host city and venue was announced by the International Netball Federation (INF) on 8 March 2019, only months prior to the staging of the 2019 edition in Liverpool, England. Cape Town's bid, supported by the South African Government and the Western Cape province, was selected by the INF ahead of a bid by Auckland, New Zealand.[5] The INF stated the Cape Town bid would "deliver a greater impact on the development of global netball" and cited the pledges by the South African Government to invest heavily in preparation and development of the sport in the lead-up to the tournament.[3] [6]

Venue

All matches at the event were held at the Cape Town International Convention Centre.[3]

Mascot

In August 2022, the mascot was revealed for the tournament following a public competition.[7] [8] Designed by 11-year-old Violet Cassidy from Manchester, England; the mascot is an anthropomorphic meerkat named Letsasi, meaning "sun."[7] [9]

Broadcasters

This is a list of the broadcasters for the tournament in competing countries and regions. For the first time in history, the event was recorded and produced by an all women crew from SuperSport (MultiChoice).[10] All other countries not listed below are able to subscribe to NetballPass to watch the tournament.

CountryBroadcaster
Fox Netball[11] [12]
SBS Viceland (semi finals and final)
CBC (semi finals and final only)
Sky Sports
[13]
Sky Sport[14] [15] [16]
SuperSport[17] [18] [19]
SABC
Sky Sports[20]
BBC (July 31 onward)[21]

Teams

Sixteen teams contested the 2023 title.[22] Six teams qualified automatically: the hosts, and the top five (other) teams in the World Netball Rankings.[23] The remaining ten places were filled via five regional tournaments, with two teams qualifying from each.

Teams which qualified automatically (in order of world ranking):

Qualification tournaments

RegionHostTeamsDatesQualifiedHistory
5 19–23 July 2022
[24] [25] [26]
9 21–27 August 2022
[27] [28] [29] [30]
11 3–11 September 2022
[31] [32]
6 12–16 October 2022
[33]
9 16–21 October 2022
[34] [35]

Squads

The sixteen competing nations selected 12-player squads for the tournament, with three additional reserve players named. Reserve players would be permanent replacements in the event of injury.[36]

Format

The format of the competition was the same as that introduced for the 2019 Netball World Cup. Teams competed in three stages; the Preliminaries Stage One (28–30 July), Preliminaries Stage Two (31 July–3 August) and the Play-offs and Placings matches (4–6 August).[37]

Preliminaries Stage One
There were four groups (A, B, C and D) of four teams in the first stage, with the top eight teams pre-assigned to their groups and one team from the 9th–12th seeds and one from the 13th–16th seeds drawn randomly into each group. No more than two teams from the one region can be drawn into the same group. The top three teams from each group progressed to the second preliminaries stage.

Preliminaries Stage Two
The top three teams from Groups A and B formed Group F, and the top three teams from Groups C and D formed Group G. The bottom four finishers from Groups A-D competed against one another in Group E. Where teams in Groups F and G have already played each other in the Preliminaries Stage One (i.e. A1 has already played A2 and A3), these results will carry through to the Preliminaries Stage Two.

Play-offs and Placings
The teams finishing first and second in Groups F and G went through to the semi-finals, with the top placed team in each group facing the second placed team in the other group. The winners of each semi-final competed for gold in the final, with the losers playing for bronze.

The teams finishing third and fourth in Groups F and G competed for final positions fifth to eighth – third in one group plays fourth in the other – with the winners playing off for fifth place and the losers for seventh. The teams that finished fifth in Groups F and G played off for ninth and 10th places. The teams that finished last in Groups F and G played off for 11th and 12th places. The teams that finished first and second in Group E played off for 13th and 14th place and the teams that finish third and fourth in Group E played off for the 15th and 16th places.

Umpires

UmpireAssociation
Bronwen AdamsAustralia
Joshua BowringAustralia
Jemma CookAustralia
Tara WarnerAustralia
Kate WrightAustralia
Angela Armstrong-LushNew Zealand
Gareth FowlerNew Zealand
Ken MetekingiNew Zealand
Kristie SimpsonNew Zealand
Gary BurgessEngland
Alison HarrisonWales
Kate MannEngland
Louise TravisEngland
Tracy-Ann GriffithsJamaica
Terrence PeartJamaica
Anso KempSouth Africa
Elizna Van den BergSouth Africa

Appointment panel

UmpireAssociation
Heather Gleadall (chair)England
Sharon KellyAustralia
David Pala'amoNew Zealand
Marielouw Van der MerweSouth Africa
Anne AbraitisScotland
Deborah LynchBarbados

Preliminaries Stage One

Group D

Preliminaries Stage Two

Group E

Group E contains the four bottom teams from Groups A-D and compete for final placings 13th to 16th.

Group F

The top three teams from Groups A and B advance to Group F. All six teams previously played two matches against Group F teams – for example, each team in Group A played the two other Group A teams who advanced to Group F. At the start of Group F the table is initialised to include the results of these two Group A or Group B matches for each team. The former Group A teams play the former Group B teams in three rounds of three matches in Group F.

Teams finishing first and second in Group F go through to the semi-finals – the top team in Group F plays the second team in Group G and the second team in Group F plays the top team in Group G. The four remaining teams in Group F compete for the final placings from 5th to 12th.

Group G

The top three teams from Groups C and D advance to Group G. All six teams previously played two matches against Group G teams – for example, each team in Group C played the two other Group C teams who advanced to Group G. At the start of Group G the table is initialised to include the results of these two Group C or Group D matches for each team. The former Group C teams play the former Group D teams in three rounds of three matches in Group G.

Teams finishing first and second in Group G go through to the semi-finals – the top team in Group G plays the second team in Group F and the second team in Group G plays the top team in Group F. The four remaining teams in Group G compete for the final placings from 5th to 12th.

Placement matches

5th–8th

5th place

Semi-finals and medal matches

England finished top of Group F after the preliminary stages, defeating Australia 56–55 in their match, the first time that England had ever defeated Australia in the tournament. The Roses overcoming an eight-goal deficit in the third quarter to take a one-goal win 56–55.[38] [39] Both teams had already qualified for the semi-final stage of the tournament.

In Group G, Jamaica pulled away from New Zealand to win 59–48, with both teams progressing through to semi-finals despite the loss for New Zealand.

As group winners, England faced five-time champions New Zealand, with Jamaica playing 11-time champions Australia.[40]

Defending champions New Zealand, looking to become the first Silver Ferns team to win consecutive tournaments, kept their semi final match against England tight in the first three quarters. The teams were tied at 32–all at three-quarter-time, but a dominant final quarter from England saw them take a 46–40 victory to progress to the final for the first time.[41]

In the other semi final, Australia outlasted Jamaica in a see-sawing match. A dominant display from Diamonds vice-captain Steph Wood in the goal circle (scoring 29 goals from 32 attempts) helping Australia reach their ninth-straight final appearance.[42] Australia's goal keeper Courtney Bruce earning player of the match honours for her ability to disrupt the efforts of the Sunshine Girls attacking duo of Jhaniele Fowler and Shanice Beckford.[43]

In the bronze medal match, Jamaica took a three-goal lead into half time against New Zealand. Plagued by turnovers, Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua changed New Zealand's starting shooting circle combination of Maia Wilson and Ameliaranne Ekenasio for Te Paea Selby-Rickit and Tiana Metuarau after half time, but with Jamaica extending that lead in the third quarter to as much as eight goals, Wilson and Ekenasio returned again. Sunshine Girls shooter Jhaniele Fowler scored 43 goals from 44 attempts, while Jodi-Ann Ward was announced as the player of the match as Jamaica secured the bronze medal.[44] [45]

For New Zealand, it was the first time that they had finished the tournament without a medal placing finish.

Australia would enter the final as slight underdogs, after losing to England in the group phase. The Roses led by shooters Eleanor Cardwell and player of the tournament Helen Housby, would be met by ruthless defence in the gold medal match, with the Diamonds defenders pressuring their opponents into errors. Kiera Austin won the player of the final award, after entering the match in the second quarter.[46] Austin and fellow shooter Sophie Garbin sparking a surge from Australia through the second and third quarters, with the Roses unable to go with the Diamonds.[47] [48] [49]

Australia won the final 61–45 to claim their 12th Netball World Cup title, with the Diamonds adding to their 2022 Commonwealth Games gold medal victory.[50]

Gold and silver medals match

Tournament top scorers

Player Team Goals
302 310 97.4%
260 277 93.9%
250 264 94.7%
241 267 90.3%
231 256 90.2%
218 232 94.0%
215 239 90.0%
208 241 93.3%
206 241 85.5%
204225 90.7%
[51]

Final standings

!Placement!Team
1st
2nd
3rd
4th
5th
6th
7th
8th
9th
10th
11th
12th
13th
14th
15th
16th

Awards

Medallists

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Sim. Josh. Netball World Cup loses Vitality title sponsorship. 13 July 2023. SportsPro. Henley Media Group. 9 August 2023. limited.
  2. Web site: NWC2023 Vitality Netball World Cup 2023 . 27 February 2022.
  3. Web site: International Netball Federation Announces Host For INF Netball World Cup 2023. International Netball Federation. 8 March 2019.
  4. Web site: Mokwena . Busisiwe . Curtains close on African World Cup . SuperSport.com . 8 August 2023 . 7 August 2023.
  5. Web site: Cape Town will host Vitality Netball World Cup 2023 . ESPN. 8 March 2019.
  6. Web site: Netball: New Zealand loses bid to host 2023 Netball World Cup to South Africa. The New Zealand Herald. 8 March 2019.
  7. Web site: Netball World Cup unveils official meerkat mascot, Letsatsi . Mpumalanga News . 7 November 2022 . 6 September 2022.
  8. Web site: Houston . Michael . Meerkat mascot Letsatsi revealed for 2023 Netball World Cup . Inside the Games . 7 November 2022 . 25 August 2022.
  9. Web site: Netball World Cup 2023 Unveils Its Mascot "Letsatsi" At Netball World Cup 2023 Qualifiers – Africa . World Netball . 7 November 2022 . 23 August 2022.
  10. Web site: SuperSport . 2022-06-12 . supersport.com . ZA.
  11. Web site: The Foxtel Group Will Show Every Game Of The Vitality Netball World Cup 2023 Live In Australia, With SBS Showing The Semi-Finals And Final. netball.sport . 10 February 2023 . 14 October 2022.
  12. Web site: SBS to broadcast the 2023 Netball World Cup . sbs.com.au . . 21 July 2023 . 5 June 2023.
  13. Web site: WHERE TO WATCH THE NETBALL WORLD CUP 2023 . World Netball . 21 July 2023.
  14. Web site: Sky to broadcast the Netball World Cup in 2023 . sky.co.nz . 10 February 2023 . 14 October 2022.
  15. Web site: Saleh . Tariq . Sky NZ acquires 2023 Netball World Cup rights . Sportcal . 10 February 2023 . 14 October 2022.
  16. Web site: Yusuf . Imran . Sky NZ keeps 2023 Netball World Cup fee flat . sportbusiness.com . 10 February 2023 . 7 December 2022.
  17. Web site: Netball World Cup 2023: broadcast details for next year's tournament in Cape Town . 2022-06-12 . TimesLIVE . en-ZA.
  18. Web site: Louw . Cato . SuperSport, SABC bag rights to broadcast 2023 Netball World Cup . 2022-06-12 . ewn.co.za . en-US.
  19. Web site: Yusuf . Imran . SABC, SuperSport land Netball World Cup rights in host country . sportbusiness.com . 10 February 2023 . 2 March 2022.
  20. Web site: Netball World Cup 2023: Sky Sports to show every game live from tournament in Cape Town, South Africa . 2023-07-14 . Sky Sports . en.
  21. Web site: BBC to broadcast Netball World Cup 2023 . 2023-07-14 . www.bbc.co.uk . en.
  22. Web site: Frequently Asked Questions . Netball World Cup Cape Town 2023 . 23 July 2022.
  23. Web site: World Netball (WN) World Rankings, published today, confirms five more teams for the Netball World Cup 2023 . 15 August 2022 . World Netball . 17 August 2022.
  24. Web site: Oceania Netball World Cup Qualifiers . World Netball . 23 July 2022.
  25. News: Tongan Tala qualify for netball World Cup finals for first time . 23 July 2022 . RNZ.
  26. News: Baleilevuka . Rusiate . Fiji Pearls qualify for Netball World Cup . 23 July 2022 . FijiVillage.
  27. Web site: Africa Netball World Cup Qualifiers . World Netball . 23 July 2022.
  28. News: Africa Regional Netball World Cup Draw Out . 14 August 2022 . SportsRifle 7/24.
  29. Web site: All You Need to Know: Netball World Cup Qualifiers – Africa . 18 August 2022 . World Netball . 20 August 2022.
  30. Web site: Latest News From the Netball World Cup Qualifiers – Africa . 25 August 2022 . World Netball . 27 August 2022.
  31. Web site: Asia Netball World Cup Qualifiers . World Netball . 23 July 2022.
  32. Web site: Asian Netball Championships 2022 . Netball Singapore . 23 July 2022.
  33. Web site: Europe Netball World Cup Qualifiers . World Netball . 23 July 2022.
  34. Web site: Americas Netball World Cup Qualifiers . World Netball . 23 July 2022.
  35. Web site: Americas World Cup Netball Qualifiers Official Website . Americas Netball . 10 October 2022.
  36. Web site: Diamonds World Cup team revealed . diamonds.netball.com.au . 31 July 2023 . 19 June 2023. Under new World Netball rules, the three reserve players can be promoted into the playing list of 12 as permanent replacement players. Once a player in the playing list has been permanently replaced, they cannot return to play in the tournament..
  37. Web site: NWC 23 Fixtures and Format . SuperSport.com . 8 August 2023 . 12 May 2023.
  38. Web site: England shock Australia to hand Diamonds first defeat of Netball World Cup campaign . abc.net.au . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 4 August 2023 . 3 August 2023.
  39. Web site: Anderson . Jess . Netball World Cup 2023: England 56–55 Australia – Roses beat Diamonds in thriller . BBC Sport . BBC . 4 August 2023 . 3 August 2023.
  40. Web site: Anderson. Jess. Netball World Cup 2023: England prepare to face New Zealand in semi-final. 4 August 2023. BBC Sport. BBC. 15 August 2023.
  41. Web site: Egan . Brendon . Silver Ferns fail to fire in fourth quarter yet again in World Cup semifinal loss . . . 8 August 2023 . 6 August 2023.
  42. Web site: AUSTRALIA FEND OFF JAMAICA TO BOOK SPOT IN NINTH STRAIGHT NETBALL WORLD CUP FINAL . nwc2023.org.za . World Netball . 25 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230825014625/https://nwc2023.org.za/2023/08/05/australia-fend-off-jamaica-to-book-spot-in-ninth-straight-netball-world-cup-final/ . 25 August 2023 . 5 August 2023.
  43. Web site: Carter . Brittany . Australia beats Jamaica 57–54 at Netball World Cup to set up final against England . abc.net.au . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 8 August 2023 . 6 August 2023.
  44. Web site: Egan . Brendon . Silver Ferns go home empty-handed from World Cup after bronze medal loss . . . 8 August 2023 . 7 August 2023.
  45. Web site: Netball World Cup 2023: Jamaica 52–45 New Zealand – Sunshine Girls secure bronze . BBC Sport . BBC . 8 August 2023 . 6 August 2023.
  46. Web site: AUSTRALIA CROWNED NETBALL WORLD CUP CHAMPIONS FOR THE 12TH TIME AS JAMAICA CLINCH BRONZE . nwc2023.org.za . World Netball . 25 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230825014040/https://nwc2023.org.za/2023/08/06/australia-crowned-netball-world-cup-champions-for-the-12th-time-as-jamaica-clinch-bronze/ . 25 August 2023 . 6 August 2023.
  47. Web site: Carter . Brittany . Australia's Diamonds win Netball World Cup for 12th time, beating England 61–45 in Cape Town final . abc.net.au . Australian Broadcasting Corporation . 8 August 2023 . 7 August 2023.
  48. Web site: Warren . Adrian . Australia bounce back from pain of 2019 to capture Netball World Cup title . stuff.co.nz . Stuff Limited . 8 August 2023 . 7 August 2023.
  49. Web site: Anderson . Jess . Netball World Cup final 2023: England 45–61 Australia – Roses miss out on historic title . BBC Sport . BBC . 8 August 2023 . 6 August 2023.
  50. Web site: Merrell. Chloe. Australia dominate England to win Netball World Cup for 12th time. 7 August 2023. The Guardian. 15 August 2023.
  51. Web site: NWC 2023 – Statistics . netballpass.com . World Netball . 8 August 2023 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230808222603/https://www.netballpass.com/statistics . 8 August 2023.