Fresh off a strong finish in Malawi, South Africa’s men lead the charge while the SPAR Proteas Women prepare for a highly anticipated series against England.
South Africa (07 January 2026) – South African netball heads into the new year with confidence and big match-ups on the horizon, following a strong end to 2025. Both the Proteas Men and the SPAR Proteas Women prepare for key international assignments with an exciting international schedule ahead.
The tone will be set by the Proteas Men, who open the year with the SPAR Challenge Pre-Match Series against the Australian Kelpies. It’s a fixture that promises intensity, skill and a proper early test against international opposition, giving local fans a glimpse of what lies ahead for the men’s game.
That confidence hasn’t come out of nowhere. The men ended 2025 on a high at the Africa Netball Cup in Lilongwe, Malawi, where they delivered a composed and clinical performance in the final against Zimbabwe. From the opening whistle, South Africa controlled the tempo. And they hope it won’t be any different against Australia.
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While the men take centre stage early, the SPAR Proteas Women are also gearing up for a significant start to the year. They will kick off their 2026 campaign with a SPAR Challenge three-Test series against England’s Vitality Roses, set to take place at the Ellis Park Indoor Arena in Johannesburg.
The series marks England’s return to South African soil for the first time since 2023, when the two sides met during the Quad Series in Cape Town, before locking horns again later that year at the Netball World Cup, also hosted in the Mother City. Those encounters added another chapter to a growing rivalry.
The Tests will be played between 29 January and 1 February, offering the SPAR Proteas Women an early opportunity to measure themselves against one of the world’s top netball nations, while also setting the tone for a busy international year ahead.
Together, the men’s pre-match series against Australia and the women’s clash with England reflect a South Africa that’s competitive and ready to take on the challenge in 2026.
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