The 2023 Netball World Cup in Cape Town is well underway and with the all of the Phase 1 Group matches now complete we move into the Phase 2 Group Stage.
Don’t worry, the format is confusing, so at the Swifts we’ve tried to make it a little easier to understand. Below is what's set to happen next.
WORLD CUP – PHASE 2
- Top three teams from Pool A and B now form Pool F: Australia, England, Tonga, Malawi, Scotland, Fiji
- Top three teams from Pool C and D now form Pool G: Jamaica, NZ, South Africa, Uganda, Wales, Trinidad & Tobgao
- Bottom teams from each of the four original Pools (A, B, C & D) are effectively already eliminated but will form Group E to contest the 13th-16th Place Playoffs: Zimbabwe, Barbados, Sri Lanka, Singapore
- Teams in Pools F and G will carry over results (points/percentages) from the games they have already played in the first pool stage, and in Phase 2 play teams they haven’t met yet.
- Teams in Pools F and G now play three further games in Phase 2. For example: Australia, who topped Pool A, will face three teams from Pool B (Scotland, Malawi and England).
- At the end of Phase 2, the top two teams from Pools F and G will contest Semi Finals to reach the Gold Medal Match.
WORLD CUP – PHASE 3
- Semi Final 1: Pool F Winner v Pool G Runner Up (Winner goes to Gold Medal Match)
- Semi Final 2: Pool G Winner v Pool F Runner up (Winner goes to Gold Medal Match)
- Bronze Match: Loser Semi Final 1 v Loser Semi Final 2
- 5th-8th Place Playoffs: Teams which finish third or fourth in Pools F and G.
- 9th-12th Place Playoffs: Teams which finish fifth and sixth in Pools F and G
- 13th-16th Place Playoffs: Teams which form Group E (explained above)
SWIFTS IN ACTION
The NSW Swifts are proud to be well represented at the tournament with a host of current (and former) Club Champions and Alumni taking part across the Australian, English, Jamaican and Tongan sides.
From our 2023 squad, Swifts Dual Premiership winners Paige Hadley and Sarah Klau are there with the Australian Diamonds, while another dual champion in Helen Housby is representing the England Roses.
Romelda Aiken-George, a stalwart in the Swifts’ march to the 2023 Suncorp Super Netball Grand Final, is back on the international scene with Jamaica, while Swift #105 Kelea Iongi is lining up for Tonga alongside her Aunt and former Swifts captain Mo’onia Gerrard.
In addition to Iongi and Gerrard, four-time Swifts Premiership champion and head coach Briony Akle is also in South Africa as part of the Tongan coaching ticket.
Below are the key times in AEST, so you can follow the Swifts who are taking part.
HOW TO WATCH LIVE & FREE
All Australian Diamonds games can be watched LIVE & FREE via Kayo Freebies. Kayo Freebies can be accessed by downloading the Kayo Sports app or visiting www.kayosports.com.au/freebies and creating an account.
Kayo Freebies are free with no credit card details required.
VIEWING GUIDE: KEY TIMES
AUSTRALIA (Paige Hadley & Sarah Klau)
- DIAMONDS v SCOTLAND – Mon 31 July, 5pm AEST
- DIAMONDS v MALAWI – Tues 1 Aug, 7pm AEST
- DIAMONDS v ENGLAND – Thurs 3 Aug, 5pm AEST
ENGLAND (Helen Housby)
- ENGLAND v TONGA– Tues 1 Aug, 2am AEST
- ENGLAND v FIJI– Wed 2 Aug, 4am AEST
- ENGLAND v DIAMONDS – Thurs 3 Aug, 5pm AEST
TONGA (Kelea Iongi & Briony Akle)
- TONGA v ENGLAND – Tues 1 Aug, 2am AEST
- TONGA v SCOTLAND – Wed 2 Aug, 12am AEST
- TONGA v MALAWI – Fri 4 Aug, 2am AEST
JAMAICA (Romelda Aiken-George)
- JAMAICA v UGANDA – Tues 1 Aug, 12am AEST
- JAMAICA v TRINIDAD & TOBAGO – Thurs 3 Aug, 12am AEST
- JAMAICA v NEW ZEALAND – Thurs 3 Aug, 7pm AEST
