Netball Proteas eye English redemption as crucial Roses Test series confirmed
After a turbulent season marked by Commonwealth Games heartbreak and a lost continental crown, South Africa’s netballers will test their mettle against the Vitality Roses in London and Leicester in February.
The Spar Proteas are set to travel to England in the coming year for a crucial three-match Test series against the English Vitality Roses. The series will take place over five days in February, with the first two fixtures scheduled at London's Wembley Arena on February 6 and 7. The tour concludes at the Mattioli Arena in Leicester on February 10.
This series offers South Africa the chance to rebuild after a tumultuous 2026 campaign, which ended with a fifth-place finish at the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. The Proteas began the year by stunning the higher-ranked Roses with a 2-1 series victory at home, but this early momentum was short-lived. A disappointing pool-stage defeat to England at the Commonwealth Games marked the end of their winning run.
Later in the year, a reshaped Proteas team suffered a loss to Uganda in the Africa Netball Cup final, signaling a challenging transitional period under head coach Jenny van Dyk. With the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney approaching rapidly, playing against an elite opponent like the Vitality Roses on away soil provides a valuable measuring stick for the Proteas' readiness.
Netball South Africa president Mami Diale emphasized the importance of this series in gauging the team's state of readiness ahead of the 2027 Netball World Cup. Both South Africa and England are familiar with each other's strengths and vulnerabilities due to the presence of South African stars in the Netball Super League in the UK.
For England, the series represents their final public outing on home soil before heading to Sydney for the Netball World Cup. England Netball CEO Fran Connolly highlighted the significance of this series in their preparations for the World Cup, noting that it will be the last opportunity for fans to watch live international netball on home soil.
While South Africa will face a strong English side, a strong showing in London and Leicester could reignite the team's self-belief at a crucial time.
Written by urgent.news from IOL's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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