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Here’s all you need to know ahead of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham
This year’s Commonwealth Games will play host to the seventh edition of the netball competition. Since the sport’s admittance into the Games programme, there have been three different winners: Australia, New Zealand and England – who will defend their 2018 gold medal.
We’ve pulled together the following guide to let you know how this year’s competition will work and how you can follow it all.
Group Stage
There are 12 countries competing in the netball competition. The teams are split into two groups of six, based on their world rankings.
Group A
- Australia (1)
- Jamaica (4)
- South Africa (5)
- Scotland (8)
- Wales (9)
- Barbados (12)
Group B
- New Zealand (2)
- England (3)
- Malawi (6)
- Uganda (7)
- Trinidad & Tobago (10)
- Northern Ireland (11)
Each team plays five rounds of preliminary matches in their group, receiving two points for a win, one point for a draw and zero for a loss.
The first round of preliminary matches will take place on Friday 29 July and the final group games will be played on Thursday 4 August.
Team England’s Fixtures & Centre Pass Times
Friday 29 July
England v Trinidad & Tobago (12pm)
Saturday 30 July
England v Malawi (2pm)
Monday 1 August
England v Northern Ireland (6pm)
Tuesday 2 August
England v Uganda (6pm)
Thursday 4 August
New Zealand v England (9pm)
Semi-Finals & Medal Matches
After the conclusion of the final round of matches, the top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals that take place on Saturday. This is then followed by a bronze medal match and the final on Sunday 7 August.
Saturday 6 August
Semi-Final 1 (9am)
Semi-Final 2 (2.30pm)
Sunday 7 August
Bronze medal match (1.30pm)
Final (8.30pm)
As well as the medal matches, classification matches are also held on Friday 5 August to determine the other teams’ final placings.
Where to Watch
If you live in the UK, the BBC will be broadcasting over 200 hours of live sport coverage across BBC One, BBC Two and BBC Three alongside 11 streams on BBC iPlayer, the BBC Sport website and the Red Button.
All of England’s matches will be available on BBC iPlayer. They will be in the sport section and matches can also be searched for on the iPlayer app/page.
BBC Radio 5 Live and Radio 5 Sports Extra will also be bringing live commentary for netball.
For further information on the BBC’s TV times and radio listings, please click here and continue to check the BBC’s digital channels for further updates on their programmes.
Viewing parties
We have teamed up with venues in London and in the Midlands to create a series of designated ‘screening hubs’ where fans can come together to enjoy the tournament as it unfolds. Hosted at South London’s iconic Pop Brixton and at the popular pub chain, The Botanist in Birmingham, Alderley Edge and West Bridgford, Nottingham, come along with your friends and family and watch Team England defend their title on home soil and enjoy what will be a spectacle for our sport this summer.
Please note that booking is advised and England Netball members get 10% of all food & drink at participating The Botanist venues.
Stay Up to Date
We will be providing updates throughout the Games, keeping you up to date on all the action. Make sure you follow England Netball on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to stay on top of the latest news from the competition, and subscribe on YouTube for video features with the team.
You can also check out the Team England squad and find all the fixtures and results from the Games here.
New to Netball? Want to Play?
If you’re new to our sport and want to have a go yourself, there are plenty of ways you can get involved.
Through the netball finder on our homepage, simply select play and enter your postcode and you’ll find a variety of sessions in your area.
We have programmes for everyone aged 5 to 95 from Bee Netball for children, to Back to Netball for those returning, to Walking Netball, a slower version of the game we love.
