Diamonds schedule UK tour ahead of Commonwealth Games

Friday, November 13, 2009

By Netball Australia

The Australian Diamonds will tour the United Kingdom early next year as part of preparations for the October Commonwealth Games in Delhi.

Five Test matches against England and Scotland have been scheduled for February 2010 to give the Diamonds one final chance to represent their country before the ANZ Championship season kicks off on March 20.

Natalie Wright-Boyd, Netball Australia’s General Manager of High Performance believes the five Tests are a critical step before their Commonwealth Games campaign.

“It’s about working together as a group and finding time in the international domestic seasons to schedule Test matches and to have that precious time together as a team.

“It becomes difficult to schedule with the complexities of different competitions and athlete and support staff availability around the world,” Wright-Boyd explained.

“We have three Tests against England – as number three ranked country in the world they will be a serious threat in Delhi. It is also important to play the top nations to maintain our number one ranking.

“Going into Scotland is about the long term plan for the 2014 Commonwealth Games [to be held in Glasgow]. It is important to go in now and get that experience so we can start preparing for 2014.

“Everything we do is about achieving success in the milestone events, so we have to ensure we have the depth to do that.”

Tour dates:

Scotland vs Diamonds
14 February
Glasgow

16 February
Glasgow

England vs Diamonds - The Co-operative International Netball Series 2010

19 February
Liverpool

21 February
Nottingham

23 February
London