Netball South Africa has announced that the Spar Proteas will go up against reigning World Champions Australia in a three-test series, the first test scheduled for the Red Energy Arena in Bendigo, 150km inland from Melbourne in Victoria, Australia, on Saturday evening, 4 October 2025.
The last series between the Spar Proteas and Australian Diamonds was played in 2023, also in Australia, which the hosts won. It was the first standalone Test series between the two nations “Down Under” in 18 years.
Head Coach Jenny van Dyk said, “We are delighted to take on the world champions in a three-test series in Australia.”
“This is a crucial part of our growth as a team, allowing us to test ourselves against the best, set our standards, and work towards our goals. We are excited to get out there and give it our all.”
Spar Proteas Head Coach, Jenny van Dyk
South Africa and Australia have played each other 46 times, with Australia winning all test matches played.
However, in recent years, and largely thanks to former Australian Head Coach Norma Plummer, who took over as coach of the Spar Proteas in 2015-2019 and again in 2022-2023, South Africa have narrowed the score line against the world number one team and proven a challenge to the world champs.
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The most notable efforts by South Africa were at the Quad Series in London in 2018 where the Diamonds beat the Spar Proteas 54-50 and the antagonising loss by South Africa to Australia in the 2019 netball World Cup semi-final in Liverpool, which Australia won by 2 points 55-53 in the dying minutes of the game.
Origin Australian Diamonds Head Coach Stacey Marinkovich said, “The series against South Africa is a key part of our preparation as we build toward major campaigns like the Constellation Cup and, looking ahead, the 2026 Glasgow Commonwealth Games and 2027 netball World Cup in Sydney.”
“Every match counts and we’re excited to start that journey against the Spar Proteas in Bendigo.”
Origin Australian Diamonds Head Coach, Stacey Marinkovich
The location of the second and third Australian vs South Africa test series matches will be announced shortly by the hosts, Netball Australia.
Three-Test Netball Series
Sat, 4 October 2025, 19h30: First Test – Australia vs South Africa (Red Energy Arena, Bendigo, Victoria)
Second Test: Details TBC
Third Test: Details TBC
South Africa vs Australia Recent Results
2018 = Australia 54-50 South Africa (London)
2018 = Australia 60-38 South Africa (Gold Coast)
2018 = Australia 61-44 South Africa (Auckland)
2019 = Australia 62-45 South Africa (Liverpool)
2019 = Australia 55-53 South Africa (Liverpool)
2022 = Australia 60-40 South Africa (London)
2022 = Australia 74-49 South Africa (Birmingham)
2023 = Australia 65-48 South Africa (Cape Town)
2023 = Australia 62-43 South Africa (Cairns)
2023 = Australia 67-52 South Africa (Hobart)
2023 = Australia 77-50 South Africa (Hobart)
South Africa vs Australia Head-to-Head Statistics
– Total games played: 46
– Proteas won: 0
– Diamonds won: 46
– Drew: 0
– Proteas total goals scored: 1787
– Diamonds total goals scored: 3114
– Average score: Diamonds 68-39 Proteas
– Proteas smallest losing margin: 2 goals (53-55) in 2019 in Liverpool.
– Diamonds biggest winning margin: 61 goals (89-28) in 1999 in Sydney.
– Most goals scored by Proteas: 53 (53-55) in 2019 in Liverpool.
– Most goals scored by Diamonds: 89 (89-28) in 1999 in Sydney
Original Copy: Netball South Africa, with editing by gsport
Main Photo Caption: The Spar Proteas will travel to Australia in October to play a three-test series against the current World Champions and world number one ranked Origin Diamonds. Photo: Netball South Africa
Photo 2 Caption: Jenny van Dyk, Spar Proteas Head Coach welcomes the South African opportunity to play against the reigning World Champions Australia in Australia in a three-test series in October. Photo: Reg Caldecott
Photo 3 Caption: Stacey Marinkovich, Origin Diamonds Head coach is upbeat about the South African Spar Proteas touring Australia for a three-test series in October. Photo: Netball South Africa
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