NSW Sport return to play: community sport, cricket, surf life saving, basketball, football, NRLW, sailing

Sport is rolling out dates for its return in NSW. Here’s the road map of what’s on and what’s being planned at the community and elite level. CALENDAR of dates.

Sport is returning to a ground and stadium near you now Covid restrictions lifting.

The men's and women’s A-League, NSW Premier Cricket, the NBL and WBBL, surfing, athletics, golf, sailing and surf lifesaving are just some of the sports to have penned in dates on the NSW sports calendar as life starts to return to a new-norm.

The A-League has confirmed a November starting date for their 2021/22 competitions and the NBL plans to open it season the same month while the WNBL will tip-off in December.

The Sydney to Hobart yacht race is forging ahead and NSW Premier Cricket is preparing for a November start as sports rally to get events back on.

Steph Catley of the Matlidas is tackled in the match against Brazil.

MATILDAS HEADLINE RETURN OF MAJOR EVENTS TO NSW

The Matildas two-match series at CommBank Stadium kicked off the return of major events NSW in October.

It is hoped the Socceroos will host Saudi Arabia in a designated home AFC Asian qualifier road to Qatar match on November 11 in western Sydney.

NSW PREMIER CRICKET, SYDNEY GRADE CRICKET

QR codes, mandatory check in and Covid-19 safety plans will all be necessary requirements as NSW cricket clubs plot their return to the field for NSW Premier Cricket and other community cricket events.

First and second grade will hit the pitch on November 6 with other grades following. Cricket NSW was one of the first sports to reveal list calendar for grade cricket. FULL STORY.

The last NSW Premier Cricket season was run without major interruption last summer except when coronavirus flared on the northern beaches just prior to Christmas.

Australia’s Linden Hall and Jessica Hull after the final of the women's 1500m at the Tokyo Olympics.

NSW ATHLETICS READY TO ROCK

NSW has a number of events planned in the next few months, including state championships.

After a fabulous Tokyo Olympics, a number of our stars and up-and-comers will be competing in Sydney over the summer.

The first big event of the season is the state 3000m championships on November 13 with the relay championships a week later.

A-LEAGUE START DATES

The A-League kicks off on November 19 and the W-League on December 3, 2021.

The season will kick off in NSW with a fantastic derby between Western Sydney Wanderers FC and Sydney FC in the opening round. FULL STORY

The W-League kicks off with a match between Wellington Phoenix and the Western Sydney Wanderers at a venue still to be confirmed on December 3.

A day later Sydney FC will host the Newcastle Jets at Jubilee Stadium.

Mitchell Duke of the Wanderers and David Ball of the Phoenix.

WNBL HAS TIP-OFF DATE

The Women’s National Basketball League (WNBL) 2021/22 season will tip-off on December 2.

Twins Alicia Froling (University of Canberra Capitals) and Keely Froling (Sydney Uni Flames) will face off in the opening round after the later moved to Sydney in the off-season.

The WNBL has adopted a flexible schedule to allow for any changes due to change in circumstances.

NSW GOLF RETURNS FROM COVID

A regional town has the honour of hosting the first major tournament for golf in NSW as it and another sports prepare to make their return from Covid lockdown and sport restrictions.

Golf NSW has announced the return of an array of events after 80% vaccination was reached in the state earlier than expected. FULL STORY

In other news the 2022 NSW Amateur Championship is bound for the Illawarra for the first time in its 123 year history and will be held at The Links Shell Cove & Wollongong Golf Clubs from January 24th to 28th, 2022.

Surfing competitions will return in NSW.

NSW SURFING TO MAKE WAVES

Surfing NSW has revealed a range of events going ahead in the final months of 2021.

With the NSW Government’s recent announcement regarding the return of community sport at 80% full vaccination, 10 events will take place until the end of 2021.

The events are:

Surfer Grom Comp, Coffs Harbour. November 6-7.

Surfer Grom Comp, Kiama, November 13-14.

NSW Junior State Titles, Illawarra November 17-22.

Surf Aid Cup, Manly, November 26.

Australian Boardriders Battle, Regional Qualifier, North Narrabeen, November 27.

Aloha Manly Junior Teams Event, Manly, December 4-5.

Surfer Grom Comp, Cronulla December 4-5.

Australian Boardriders Battle Regional Qualifier, Kiama, December 11.

Surfer Grom Comp, Northern Beaches, December 11-12.

Australian Boardriders Battle Regional, Coffs Harbour, December 18.

NBL MOVE START DATE FOR 2021/22 SEASON

The NBL made the decision to delay the start of its 2021–22 competition by a month.

The competition will now kick off on November 18.

NSW teams in the NBL are the Illawarra Hawks and the Sydney Kings.

Action in the 2020 NRLW season match between the St George Illawarra Dragons and the New Zealand Warriors.

NRLW MOVED TO SUMMER

The women’s rugby league competition was moved to early 2022 in September.

This means to NRLW competitions are likely to be held in 2022 along with a State of Origin and the women’s World Cup.

There will be new teams in the 2022 competition with the Gold Coast Titans, Newcastle Knights, joining and Parramatta Eels joining the Brisbane Broncos, St George Illawarra Dragons and Sydney Roosters.

SURF LIFE SAVING HAS BIG SUMMER PLANNED

The famous Coolangatta Gold is going ahead in November but there are also big plans for the Nutri-Grain ironman and ironwoman series.

The professional series will kick off at Bondi beach from January 14-16 and will also include racing for Generation Next athletes. FULL STORY

The start of the Sydney to Hobart yacht race in 2019.

SYDNEY TO HOBART YACHT RACE 2021

Organisers of the famous and world renowned race are forging ahead with plans to set sail on December 26. FULL STORY

The race was cancelled at the 11th hour last year due to the coronavirus outbreak on the northern beaches which saw Tasmania shut its borders.

SAIL GP SERIES ON SYDNEY HARBOUR

The international SailGP series, which involves an Australian team, is set to be raced on Sydney Harbour on December 17 and 18.

The Australian team has in its crew round the world sailor Nina Curtis from Sydney’s northern beaches. MORE ON THE SERIES

Sport is returning to a ground and stadium with you now Covid restrictions lifting.

HOCKEY ONE LEAGUE

Hockey NSW pushed back the start of the second season of the Hockey One League due to the coronavirus pandemic.

The competition was set to start on October 1. However it has since been cancelled.

Read more from AMANDA LULHAM HERE

Originally published as NSW Sport return to play: community sport, cricket, surf life saving, basketball, football, NRLW, sailing