Diamonds to face Super Netball All Stars in bushfire relief showcase

The national side will face the Super Netball All Stars in Sydney to raise funds for bushfire victims.

The Diamonds will take on the Super Netball All Stars in a bushfire relief showcase. Picture: Mark Evans

The Australian Diamonds have signed up for a special bushfire relief showcase match against the Super Netball All Stars on March 1 at Sydney’s Qudos Bank Arena.

It will be the only chance for Australian netball fans get to see the top-ranked national team in action until their spring international commitments.

The Diamonds had been on hiatus over the summer after a demanding 2019, but were keen to help support those affected by the catastrophic fires.

“Our entire squad has seen these devastating events unfold over the past few months and our hearts go out to those affected,” said Diamonds captain Caitlin Bassett.

Caitlin Bassett. Picture: Getty Images

“As a group, we’re eager to do anything possible to help and looking forward to getting out there in front of a packed house in Sydney.”

The match will also be the first time Super Netball fans see the concept of an All Star team tested out on-court. Netball Australia said that it will announced details on the team selection, and ticket availability in the coming weeks.

The national body also announced a collection of further fundraising efforts on Tuesday. Super Netball’s elite athletes have all agreed to spend a day each volunteering with a state organisation, netball club or charity to assist with relief and recover efforts.

The league’s pre-season Team Girls Cup, to be held between the All Stars match and the season launch in May, will also be dedicated to raising funds for bushfire relief.

Finally, the national Give for a Goal initiative — a grassroots fundraising program — will allow community organisations to raise money for bushfire relief throughout their own seasons.

All funds raised by Netball Australia will be donated to the Red Cross, and to a new “Natural Disaster Relief Fund” established to support netball-specific bushfire recover programs.

“The Australian netball community has a wonderful resilience and determination. We’ll do everything we can to assist both the broader Australian community and also grassroots netball-specific recovery efforts around the country,” said Netball Australia chief executive Marne Fechner.