Capricorn Claws one of four teams in new Ruby North netball competition

The regional netball team will be back on court in 2025 after a five-year hiatus. Steering committee president Shari Hancox outlines how the bid was won and what it means for our playing talent.

The Capricorn Claws will play in the Ruby North competition in 2025.

The Capricorn Claws are back and ready to rip into the newly established Ruby North competition.

Netball Queensland awarded the fourth licence to the Claws, who will play alongside Far North Flames, Townsville and Mackay Monarchs in 2025.

The Ruby North competition is a reinvigorated initiative aimed at providing elite netball opportunities for the finest athletes in the state’s central and northern regions.

NQ general manager - netball Glenn Dennis said the addition of the Claws “made sense”, and they were the “obvious choice”.

“We’ve been really impressed by the commitment and capability shown by the Capricorn Claws Ruby North steering committee and commend them for the work that has been done to prepare their submission for the licence,” he said.

Heading up the committee is Capricorn Netball’s Shari Hancox, who is thrilled to have played a significant role in the revival of the Claws, who were last on court in 2019 in the Queensland Premier League.

The 2018 Capricorn Claws netball team with coach Zoe Seibold.

She commended the 20-strong committee, which had dedicated the past two months to the extensive submission process.

“We received official notification from Netball Queensland and we were really excited but we couldn’t say too much until the public release went out,” she said.

“There’s been a lot of us doing a lot of hours so it’s great to see that all come to fruition.

“But the hard work starts now to implement all these great plans and ideas that we’ve had.”

Hancox said the Claws’ inclusion in Ruby North showed a genuine pathway for regional athletes.

She said Rockhampton’s Isabelle Shearer, who has re-signed with the Queensland Firebirds for a second season in the Suncorp Super Netball, was a “beacon” for what could be achieved.

Rockhampton’s Isabelle Shearer made it to national competition, playing with the Queensland Firebirds. (Photo by Jeremy Ng/Getty Images)

Hancox believes this latest development will make the journey for regional athletes to the country’s elite competition easier, as well as increasing player retention.

She said the Capricorn region boasted a wealth of talent in its playing and coaching ranks.

Expressions of interest would be issued soon for players and staff, with a view to having trials at the back end of this year.

Hancox said the competition format, at this stage, would consist of four cluster weekends.

NQ said that in addition to the four core teams, it hoped to include invitational teams from Pacific Island nations and other states, enhancing the competition’s diversity, standard, and reach.