Netball Australia, in partnership with the Australian Government through PacificAus Sports, is thrilled to announce the inaugural PacificAus Sports Netball Challenge which will take place between 23 – 28 November 2026 at Brisbane’s Nissan Arena.
This unique stand-alone Challenge tournament marks a pivotal moment in Pacific netball, as it will be the first national competition designed exclusively for Pacific-based netball players.*
Unlike previous editions of the PacificAus Sports Netball Series which often feature Pacific athletes based in Australia or New Zealand, the 2026 Challenge shines a spotlight on Pacific-based netballers.
The PacificAus Sports Netball Series, a well-established competition featuring national teams from across the Pacific, will return in its usual format in 2027.
CEO of Netball Australia Stacey West is thrilled to see how the Challenge tournament will create new opportunities for athletes, coaches, and administrators across the Pacific and grow netball internationally.
“This initiative is crucial in supporting Pacific Netball Federations to continue their in-country development and maintain the growth and sustainability of netball globally, particularly in the lead-up to major events like the Netball World Cup and as netball pursues Olympic inclusion,” West said.
This event is supported by the Australian Government through the PacificAus Sports program, an initiative which builds people-to-people links and further strengthens Australia and the Pacific’s close regional ties through a shared love of sport.
The concept for the Challenge tournament emerged from consultations between Netball Australia and Pacific Netball Federations, where the federations emphasised the need to provide clearer pathways for Pacific-based netballers to compete at the national level.
As a result, the Challenge tournament was created to inspire and strengthen the development of high-performance netballers across the Pacific region, bridging the gap between Pacific-based athletes and their international counterparts.
CEO of Netball Samoa Justine Samu highlighted the importance of opportunities like the Challenge event for Pacific-based athletes.
“This Challenge tournament is a true game changer for our emerging local athletes. It strengthens our commitment to providing high-performance development pathways,” she said.
“I believe this initiative will reignite the passion for netball among young girls, encouraging them to return to the sport in secondary school and beyond, ultimately expanding our reach across Samoa.”
President of Netball Fiji RubyAnn Sorovaki also welcomed the introduction of this event.
“With a high percentage of our athletes being locally based, a competition like this lifts opportunity for a wider cross section of athletes to participate both in our pathway and become possible squad members,” Sorovaki said.
The Challenge tournament will also provide professional development opportunities for local coaches, umpires and bench officials, supporting multiple facets of the Pacific netball ecosystem.
CEO of Tonga Netball Association and President of Oceania Netball Federation Salote Sisifa shared her support for the initiative.
“Having this Challenge event in place is welcoming for all, because it’s where our local players, local coaching staff, and local administration step in. As for the athletes who really stand out – this is the pathway to bridge the gap between our local players and the national team,” Sisifa said.
With a busy international calendar ahead in 2026, this tournament offers Pacific Netball Federations a timely opportunity to develop local talent and build regional capacity for future competition.
The PacificAus Sports Netball Challenge will feature the following nations:
- Fiji
- Papua New Guinea
- Samoa
- Tonga
- Cook Islands
*As this is a Challenge event, results will not contribute to world rankings. Pacific national teams will have the opportunity to compete for world-ranking points at the 2026 Netball World Cup Regional Qualifiers.
