Proteas sharpen steel in year of high-pressure Tests

SOUTH African netball spent 2025 in the pressure cooker - and by design.

- ROWAN CALLAGHAN

PROTEAS captain KC Chawane controls the ball against world champions the Aussie Diamonds in Adelaide. The world's No 1 team clinched the three-test series 3-0, but the tough lessons are sure to serve SA well in the future.

(Netball Australia)

With the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow fast approaching, Netball South Africa (NSA) mapped out one of the toughest international calendars in Proteas history.

The result was a season in which the Proteas were tested by world-class opposition, endured hard-earned growth and showed promising signs from the national pathway.

This year, the Spar Proteas faced the strongest teams in the sport: Jamaica, England, New Zealand and Australia - all ranked above South Africa and key benchmarks for a squad in transition.

The year began with a demanding away series against Jamaica, whose physicality and aerial strength continue to set the global standard. While the Sunshine Girls’ towering shooting circle tested South Africa's defensive resolve, the Proteas showed a fighting spirit that became a hallmark of their play.

Next came the Nations Cup in England. Facing England and African rivals Uganda and Malawi in quick succession exposed the gains and gaps of the squad.