Two New Zealand University Netball Teams Earn Trans-Tasman Opportunity

The top two teams from the 2026 National Tertiary Netball Championship have earned the opportunity to represent their universities in Australia as part of the next trans-Tasman university netball exchange.

The University of Auckland and AUT secured their places by finishing first and second at the national championship, held at AUT’s North Campus in Auckland on 26–27 September.

The teams will travel to Sydney for the 2026 Australian and New Zealand University Sport Series, hosted by the University of Technology Sydney from 24 November to 1 December. They will face the top two women’s netball teams from the 2026 UniSport Australia Nationals.

The Australian representatives will be confirmed following UniSport Nationals, with UniSport Australia announcing that its first- and second-placed teams will qualify for the series.

The event builds on the successful 2025 trans-Tasman netball exchange, when Australian Catholic University and the University of Technology Sydney travelled to Auckland to compete against AUT and the University of Auckland.

Hosted by AUT, the week-long exchange combined competitive netball with training, cultural activities and opportunities for students and university staff to build relationships across the Tasman. Feedback from the participating teams highlighted the value of competing against different playing styles while developing connections beyond their own universities.

UTSNZ Executive Director Sarah Anderson said the qualification opportunity added another important dimension to the National Tertiary Championship Series.

“Earning the opportunity to represent their university internationally provides a meaningful reward for the teams finishing at the top of our national competition,” Anderson said.

“The standard of netball across the tertiary sector continues to grow, and this series gives our leading teams the chance to test themselves against quality Australian opposition while experiencing everything that comes with travelling and competing internationally.

“The 2025 exchange showed that these opportunities are about much more than the competition itself. They allow students to experience another country, connect with athletes and staff from other universities, and develop relationships that can continue well beyond the event.”

The 2026 series follows the renewal of the Collaborative Agreement between University and Tertiary Sport New Zealand and UniSport Australia. The agreement supports trans-Tasman competition, staff development and the sharing of knowledge between universities in both countries.

This year’s return event will take the exchange to Australia for the first time, while UTSNZ and UniSport Australia continue to explore opportunities to expand the programme into other sports.

Further details, including the confirmed teams and competition schedule, will be announced shortly.