# 2009 World Netball Series

The 2009 World Netball Series was the inaugural tournament of the World Netball Series. The 2009 Series was held at MEN Arena in Manchester, England from 9–11 October, and was the first major trial of the new FastNet rules that were announced by the International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA) in 2008. New Zealand won the 2009 tournament with a 32–27 victory over Jamaica in the gold medal playoff.

## Organisation

The 2009 World Netball Series was played under FastNet rules, which were designed to make games faster and more television-friendly, with the ultimate aim of raising the sport's profile and attracting more spectators and greater sponsorship. Netball is now following in the footsteps of cricket and rugby in providing a shorter version of the game to appease existing netball fans and grab the attention of new ones. Retrieved 5 April 2010. It was organised by the International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA), in conjunction with the national governing bodies of the six competing nations, as well as the Manchester City Council, England Netball, the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) and UK Sport. The Manchester City Council and UK Sport also contributed funding for the inaugural tournament. The Co-operative Group were announced as title sponsors for the 2009 Series.

## Television rights

The 2009 World Netball Series was telecast in Australia by Network Ten; in Jamaica by Television Jamaica; in New Zealand by TV ONE; and in the United Kingdom by Sky Sports.

## Teams

The six teams featuring in the 2009 Series were chosen at the end of 2008 from the top six nations of the IFNA World Rankings at that time. These teams were (in descending order of ranking): Australia, New Zealand, England, Jamaica, Malawi and Samoa. Team rosters were announced prior to the start of the tournament. Samoa confirmed their participation at the tournament a few days after their country was devastated in the 2009 Samoa earthquake and tsunami.
Participating teams and rosters :
| Australia | New Zealand | England | Jamaica | Malawi | Samoa |
| Kate Beveridge Rebecca Bulley Bianca Chatfield Catherine Cox Johannah Curran Susan Fuhrmann Kimberlee Green Renae Hallinan Natalie Medhurst Lauren Nourse Susan Pratley Natalie von Bertouch Coach: Norma Plummer | Liana Leota Temepara George Katrina Grant Paula Griffin Joline Henry Laura Langman Wendy Frew Anna Thompson Maria Tutaia Irene van Dyk Larrissa Willcox Casey Williams Coach: Ruth Aitken | Karen Atkinson Sara Bayman Eboni Beckford-Chambers Jade Clarke Rachel Dunn Pamela Cookey Stacey Francis Tamsin Greenway Serena Guthrie Jo Harten Geva Mentor Sonia Mkoloma Coach: Sue Hawkins | Nicole Aiken Romelda Aiken Nadine Bryan Simone Forbes Nichala Gibson Crystal Gordon Nardia Hanson Sasher-Gaye Henry Malysha Kelly Sasha-Gay Lynch Tracy-Ann Robinson Paula Thompson Coach: Connie Francis | Merenia Gedion Peace Kaluwa Tina Kamzati Mwayi Kumwenda Linda Magombo Sylvia Malenga Emma Mdzagada Beatrice Mpinganjira Caroline Mtukule Grace Mwafulirwa Esther Nkhoma Mary Waya Coach: Edith Kaliati | Shirin Chang Lee Edwards Malu Faasavalu Monica Fuimaono Samantha Lewis Lesley Simone Frances Solia Geraldine Solia Sose Tavae Italia Tipelu Ida Vaai Brooke Williams Coach: Linda Vagana |

## Format

The tournament comprised 20 matches played over three days from 9–11 October. Each team played each other once during the first two days in a round-robin format. The four highest-ranked teams from this stage progressed to the finals, played on the final day of competition, in which the 1st-ranked team played the 4th-ranked team, while 2nd played 3rd. The winners of these two matches then contested the Grand Final; the remaining teams contested the third- and fifth-place playoffs.

### Fixtures

Friday 9 October :
| Game | Time (GMT) | Match | Match | Match | Result |
| 1 | 2:40 pm | Samoa | v | England | 16–36 |
| 2 | 3:25 pm | Australia | v | Jamaica | 31–26 |
| 3 | 4:10 pm | New Zealand | v | Malawi | 27–22 |
| 4 | 6:35 pm | England | v | New Zealand | 24–21 |
| 5 | 7:20 pm | Samoa | v | Jamaica | 22–30 |
| 6 | 8:05 pm | Malawi | v | Australia | 19–31 |
| 7 | 8:50 pm | Jamaica | v | New Zealand | 28–37 |
Saturday 10 October :
| Game | Time (GMT) | Match | Match | Match | Result |
| 8 | 10:05 am | Australia | v | New Zealand | 25–22 |
| 9 | 10:50 am | Malawi | v | Samoa | 33–16 |
| 10 | 11:35 am | Jamaica | v | England | 24–27 |
| 11 | 12:20 pm | Australia | v | Samoa | 37–18 |
| 12 | 2:35 pm | Malawi | v | England | 22–33 |
| 13 | 3:20 pm | Samoa | v | New Zealand | 14–34 |
| 14 | 4:05 pm | Malawi | v | Jamaica | 25–30 |
| 15 | 4:50 pm | England | v | Australia | 25–19 |

### Finals

Sunday 11 October :
| Game | Time (GMT) | Match | Match | Match | Result |
| 16 | 1:05 pm | England | v | Jamaica | 22–33 |
| 17 | 1:50 pm | Australia | v | New Zealand | 17–27 |
| 18 | 2:35 pm | Malawi | v | Samoa | 28–20 |
| 19 | 3:20 pm | England | v | Australia | 18–23 |
| 20 | 4:05 pm | Jamaica | v | New Zealand | 27–32 |

## Final placings

| Place | Nation |
| | New Zealand |
| | Jamaica |
| | Australia |
| 4 | England |
| 5 | Malawi |
| 6 | Samoa |
* 2009 World Series champions
* New Zealand 1st title