Netball: Silver Ferns to play five tests in NZ this year

NZ Silver ferns. Photo / Getty Images.

The Silver Ferns will take to the court in nine tests this year, with five played in New Zealand and four in Australia.

The season begins with a three-test series between the Silver Ferns and Australian Diamonds competing for the Constellation Cup commencing in Melbourne on September 16, before Auckland and Christchurch host the remaining New World Netball Series Tests on September 20 and 23 respectively.

An international Quad Series against Australian Diamonds, England and South Africa headlines the Silver Ferns international programme for 2012 as part of the nine-test schedule. This will be co-hosted by Netball New Zealand and Netball Australia.

Netball New Zealand chief executive Raelene Castle said the organisation was thrilled to be co-hosting an international series featuring four of netball's top six test nations.

"The Quad Series is a first for international netball and will be action packed with the four teams playing six matches over two and a half weeks across the two countries,'' she said.

Tickets for the Constellation Cup and the Quad Series will be on sale later in the year.

2012 test dates

Constellation Cup

Sun 16 Sep Australian Diamonds v New Zealand Silver Ferns, Hisense Arena, Melbourne, VIC

Thu 20 Sep Silver Ferns v Australian Diamonds, Vector Arena, Auckland, NZ

Sun 23 Sep Silver Ferns v Australian Diamonds, CBS Canterbury Arena, Christchurch, NZ

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2012 Quad Series

Sun 14 Oct Australian Diamonds v England Adelaide and Silver Ferns v South Africa, Entertainment Centre, Adelaide, South Australia

Wed 17 Oct Silver Ferns v England and Australian Diamonds v South Africa, Newcastle Entertainment Centre, Newcastle, NSW

Sun 21 Oct Australian Diamonds v Silver Ferns and England v South Africa, Allphones Arena, Sydney, NSW

Thu 25 Oct Australian Diamonds v South Africa and Silver Ferns v England, TSB Bank Arena, Wellington, NZ

Sun 28 Oct Australian Diamonds v England Stadium and Silver Ferns v South Africa, Southland, Invercargill, NZ

Thu 1 Nov England v South Africa and Silver Ferns v Australian Diamonds, Claudelands Arena, Hamilton, NZ