Netball Australia, with the support of the Australian Government, is proud to announce the inaugural Spirit Series, a new international tournament celebrating pride, culture and excellence for First Nations and Indo-Pacific women in netball.
Held at Netball Central in Sydney from 8–11 July 2026, and with support from Netball NSW, the event will feature Netball Australia’s First Nations team, the Black Swans, alongside the national teams of Fiji, Papua New Guinea and Singapore.
The series will be held during NAIDOC Week, an annual initiative celebrating and recognising the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. It will be delivered in partnership with the Australian Government through PacificAus Sports, and proudly supported by the Confident Girls Foundation, Suncorp and Arrpwere.
Eight elite international matches will be played across four days of competition, complemented by culturally-led community engagement activities designed to inspire the next generation of athletes and strengthen connections across the region.
Netball Australia General Manager – First Nations, Ali Tucker-Munro, said the Spirit Series represents a powerful platform to celebrate culture and connection through sport.
“The Spirit Series is an opportunity to celebrate and elevate First Nations and Indo-Pacific women in netball while creating meaningful cultural exchange and connection through sport,” Tucker-Munro said.
“This event is about acknowledging the spirit and importance of cultural pride, visibility and inspiring communities, while honouring the cultures and stories that make our game stronger.”
Netball Australia Executive General Manager – Netball, Megan Simpson, said the tournament would also play an important role in athlete and official development.
“The Spirit Series creates a unique high performance environment for emerging athletes, coaches and umpires to gain valuable international experience,” Simpson said.
“Through initiatives like the Spirit Series, we’re building stronger development opportunities and supporting the future growth of netball across Australia and the Indo-Pacific.”
Head Coach of the Fiji Pearls, Michelle Parsons, said the tournament was a great opportunity to test the squad’s depth and talent.
"We are excited to partner with Netball Australia for the upcoming Spirit Series. This tournament provides a crucial, high-intensity international fixture for the Fiji Pearls,” Parsons said.
“Facing diverse styles of play from the Black Swans, Papua New Guinea, and Singapore will challenge our players’ adaptability and performance conditioning.”
Head Coach of the PNG Pepes, Lua Rikis, welcomed the Spirit Series as a valuable opportunity for athletes in the lead up to major international events.
“We hope to use this tournament as part of our selections for the upcoming Netball World Cup Oceania Qualifiers. We are excited to be part of the Spirit Series and thank the Australian Government and PacificAus Sports for making it possible,” Rikis said.
The Spirit Series forms part of Netball Australia’s continued commitment to growing international relationships, amplifying the profile of First Nations and Indo-Pacific women in sport, and building momentum towards the Netball World Cup Sydney 2027.
Audiences throughout Australia, the Pacific region and the world will be able to watch the Spirit Series live, with broadcast details to be announced in the coming weeks.
PacificAus Sports is an Australian Government sports diplomacy initiative which supports sporting excellence across the Pacific, with a focus on strengthening international relationships through sport.
