Confirmation of 2018 Draw

The ANZ Premiership will launch its 2018 season with a blockbuster north versus south rivalry when the defending champion Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel meet the SKYCITY Mystics.

New Zealand’s premier netball competition returns with the Steel – who went through the inaugural season unbeaten – in action for the season opener and first Super Sunday which will be played at the Central Energy Trust Arena in Palmerston North on May 6, 2018.

The ANZ Premiership unearthed some exciting home grown talent in what was a successful first year for the new league, contributing to the growth in netball in New Zealand. The ANZ Premiership will follow a similar format featuring 13 rounds before culminating in a two-game Finals Series involving the top three teams.

The blockbuster Super Sunday – where all six teams are in action at the same venue – proved a fan favourite and will be played in Rounds 1 in Palmerston North before heading to Christchurch’s Horncastle Arena for Round 6 and Auckland in for the penultimate Round.

Netball New Zealand chief executive Jennie Wyllie said she was excited about the 2018 ANZ Premiership and looking forward to the first centre pass.

“As we saw last year there’s a real excitement about this competition and fans love being able to watch New Zealand’s top talent compete week in and week out,” she said.

“The ANZ Premiership produced some exceptional netball last year and developed some amazing new home grown talent who we are now seeing step up to the international stage. I can’t wait to see more.”

All matches will be broadcast live on SKY TV on Sundays, Mondays and Wednesday. Sunday afternoon games will be preceded by a Beko Netball League ‘curtain raiser’ game which will also be broadcast live on SKY TV.

The ANZ Premiership will commence on Sunday, May 6 at the conclusion of the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

ANZ Premiership snapshot:

Dates:

- Regular Season – Sunday 6 May – Wednesday 1 August

- Elimination Final – Wednesday 8 August

- Grand Final – Sunday 12 August

The Six Teams:

SKYCITY Mystics, Northern Stars, Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic, Te Wānanga o Raukawa, SilverMoon Tactix, Ascot Park Hotel Southern Steel.

The draw:

- 47 matches (45 home and away, plus two Finals featuring the top three teams)

- Three Super Sundays (Rounds 1, 6, 12) – Palmerston North, Christchurch and Auckland

Broadcast partner – SKY TV:

- The home of Netball in New Zealand since 2007.

- All 47 games LIVE on SKY Sport NZ, including the popular TV Show Netball Zone