Barbados (BAR)   They have only missed out in two previous World Cups, in 1983 and 1991. Their best placing in the nine tournaments they have competed in is the sixth place spot they secured in Scotland in 1987. Barbados placed 12th in Liverpool four years ago. They are ranked No14 in the world ahead of the 2023 World Cup.

England (ENG)     Veterans Jade Clarke and Geva Mentor have been selected for their sixth World Cup, which ties the record for most appearances. Eleanor Cardwell and Funmi Fadoju are among five tournament debutants named by head coach Jess Thirlby.

Fiji (FIJ)   Nickname: Pearls Current World Ranking: 19th Netball World Cup highlights: Fiji have competed at nine Netball World Cup’s, with their best finish coming at the Christchurch 1999 World Championships, when they finished in 6th place. At the most recent Netball World Cup, Liverpool 2019, the Fiji Pearls finished in 14th place.  Road to Cape Town: Fiji finished 2nd at the Netball World Cup Qualifiers – Oceania (NWCQ – Oceania), to qualify for the Vitality Netball World Cup 2023. The hosts of the NWCQ Oceania, beat Cook...

Jamaica (JAM)   They are the No4-ranked team in the world and are nicknamed the Sunshine Girls. Since their debut international game in 1959, the Sunshine Girls have participated in every World Cup, never finishing lower than sixth. They finished third three times – in 1991, 2003 and 2007.

Malawi (MAL) They go by the nickname “The Queens” and this will be their seventh appearance at a Netball World Cup. They are currently No6-ranked in the world. Their best placing in the competition was fifth, at the 2007 NWC in Auckland. They have finished sixth in the last three successive World Cups.

New Zealand (NZL) The Kiwis are the defending champions from Liverpool four years ago when they won the trophy for a fifth time by beating arch-rivals Australia in the final. They have never finished lower than third place. New Zealand is one of four nations that has played at every World Cup since 1963.

Scotland (SCO) Scotland beat the Isle of Man, Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Gibraltar at the European Qualifier to guarantee their ticket to Cape Town. Scotland have competed in every World Cup, except in 2011 when they failed to qualify. The highest position they have finished is sixth which they achieved on three occasions – 1971, 1975 and 1983. Scotland Thistles

Trinidad & Tobago (TTO)   Did you know that the Caribbean outfit are only one of three nations to lift the Netball World Cup? They shared the trophy in a rain-affected tournament in 1979. Known as the Calypso Girls, they were a dominant force in the mid-1970s and 1980s. Apart from winning in 1979, they placed third in 1983 and joint second in 1987.

Singapore (SIN) Singapore have competed at seven World Cups (1967, 1975, 1999, 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2019). They have also won two Nations Cup titles (2005, 2006). In 2005, the Singaporean team won the Asian Netball Championships. At No27 in the world they come into the tournament as the lowest-ranked team but are determined to make their presence felt.

Uganda (UGA) Their nickname is the “She Cranes” and they will be appearing in their fourth Netball World Cup. They made their debut in 1979 but it was another 36 years before they secured a second appearance, finishing eighth in Sydney. Four years ago they rose to seventh in Liverpool.

Tonga (TON) For Tonga, 2023 will mark the first time the Tala have reached the “main round” of the World Cup, having previously taken part in the preliminary rounds at the 1999 tournament in Christchurch.   Tonga’s path to the World Cup was not easy. It occurred against the backdrop of hardship for the nation, with the Covid-19 pandemic coupling up with natural disasters during the past few years

Sri Lanka (SRL) They are one of the outsiders for the tournament, ranked No15 in the world, but they qualified through Asia. When they come to Cape Town they will be appearing in their 11th World Cup. They finished 15th in Liverpool four years ago and their best placing was ninth in Eastbourne in 1963

  With less than a month to go to the Vitality Netball World Cup (VNWC2023) in Cape Town, the official Trophy Tour reached a particularly significant point on Monday. Having travelled across the country over the last month, the famed trophy crossed from the Eastern to Western Cape provinces of South Africa – the Western Cape being its final destination before being handed to the VNWC2023 champions when they are crowned on 6 August. Even more significant was that the handover took place at the Tsitsikamma Khoisan Village – so honouring the indigenous inhabitants of South Africa. The...

Zimbabwe (ZIM)   One of four African countries at this year’s World Cup, they are currently ranked No13 in the world. This will be only their second appearance at the showpiece, having placed eighth at the 2019 event in Liverpool. They finished third in the NWC2023 Qualifiers-Africa, edging Zambia out of the remaining African spot for Cape

04 July 2023, Pretoria – Following the fifteen names released by Netball South Africa on the 19th of May 2023 in Randburg, the federation has taken another step further and released a final list of twelve players who are part of the final team with three players as reserves. Before the fifteen players were announced, SPAR Proteas Head Coach Norma Plummer had been with the team for a four-week training camp – locally based players went back to their respective provincial teams and played the remainder of the domestic Telkom Netball League whilst the overseas based players...

South Africa (RSA)   There are seven debutants in Norma Plummer’s squad of 15 for the 2023 tournament. The squad is: Bongiwe Msomi (C), Karla Pretorius (VC), Khanyisa Chawane, Izette Griesel, Owethu Ngubane (R), Refiloe Nketsa (R), Phumza Maweni, Lenize Potgieter, Lefebre Rademan (R), Nicola Smith, Jeante Strydom, Nichole Taljaard, Elmere van der Berg, Shadine van der Merwe, Ine-Mari Venter.

Wales (WAL)   Ranked in the world’s top 10 (9th), Wales are a side capable of giving the very best a difficult game. The only times they missed out on appearing at the World Cup was at the 1967 tournament in Perth, Australia and at Liverpool four years ago. However, they have bounced back in style to qualify for Cape Town. They have twice finished sixth – in 1975 and 1979.

Msomi relishes regrouping with Proteas South African netball captain Bongi Msomi admits that if someone had told her 16-year-old self she would compete at four editions of the Netball World Cup, she would have laughed at them. Stepping onto a netball court for the first time as a teenager, the now 35-year-old could also never have envisioned that she would one day lead her side to a first ever Netball World Cup on home soil. With the event now just a matter of weeks away, Msomi is relishing the prospect of meeting up with her SPAR Proteas teammates in Cape Town this week as they put the...

With the World Cup just weeks away, official team kit sponsor PUMA is sharing Q&As with two of the star SPAR Proteas players Shadine van der Merwe and Khanyisa Chawane. In her Q&A Shadine talks on many topics including her green Kombi named Ertjie: What Shadine loves about being a defender: "All players contribute no matter their position, but being a defender is about applying pressure to build momentum and change the game. I love bringing that energy." Chasing your dreams: "Sometimes it can be scary but don't be afraid to take some risks! There will be disappointments, but...

SPAR Proteas newcomer, Jeanté Strydom (26), is eagerly anticipating the Netball World Cup, ready to seize this incredible opportunity with all her might. After impressing SPAR Proteas coach Norma Plummer as part of the President’s XII team during the SPAR Diamond Challenge in 2022, Jeanté earned her spot in the national squad. Now, she proudly stands as a member of South Africa’s Netball World Cup team, set to represent the country at the pinnacle of netball’s biggest event. Jeanté’s international success continues to shine, having clinched a silver medal with the SA FAST5 Team in...