Sapphire Series Explained

Sapphire Series
Sport:	Netball
Founded:	2019
Owner:	Netball Queensland
Teams:	10 (2022)
Country:	Australia
Venue:	Queensland State Netball Centre
Champion:	Brisbane North Cougars (2021)
Most Champs:	Brisbane North Cougars (2 titles)
Sponsor:	Hart Sport
Levels:	3

The Sapphire Series (also known as the Hart Sapphire Series under naming rights) is a state netball league featuring teams from Queensland. The league is organised by Netball Queensland. The current semi-professional league was first played for during the 2019 season. It replaced earlier state leagues organised by Netball Queensland as the top level netball competition in Queensland. On a national level, the HART Sapphire Series is effectively a third level league. Reserve teams compete in the Ruby Series.^{[1] [2]} The Firebirds Futures are the representative team of the Sapphire Series. They originally played as Queensland Fusion, and then in 2021 were re-branded Queensland Sapphires after the Sapphire Series.^[3]

History

Earlier state leagues

Between 2001 and 2018, Netball Queensland organised a series of state leagues. These included the Dairy Farmers Cup, the Holden Astra Cup, the Holden Cruze Cup, the Queensland Champions Cup and the Queensland State Netball League.^{[4] [5] [6] [7] [8]}

2019

In 2019 the founding members of the Sapphire Series included Bond University Bull Sharks, Brisbane North Cougars, Carina Leagues Club Tigers, Ipswich Jets, Moreton Bay/USC Thunder, Northern Rays and QUT Wildcats.^{[9] [10] [11]} The inaugural season began on 25 June 2019, with a match which saw Thunder defeat Bull Sharks 53–44.^[12] QUT Wildcats were the inaugural premiers after defeating Cougars 60–49 in the grand final.^{[13] [14]}

2020

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 2020 season took place later then planned. Northern Rays were unable to compete due to travel restrictions, so the second season went ahead with six teams in the Sapphire Series. Cougars, Jets, Wildcats, Tigers, Bullsharks and Thunder also entered the Ruby Series were they joined by a seventh team, Darling Downs Panthers. Cougars finished the season as premiers after defeating Jets 62–47 in the grand final.^{[15] [16] [17] [18] [19]}

2021

The 2021 Sapphire Series featured eight teams with the return of Northern Rays and the debut of QUT Netball.^{[20] [21]} Brisbane North Cougars finished the season as premiers after defeating QUT Netball 70–45 in the grand final.^[22]

2022

In December 2021 it was announced that Gold Coast Titans would enter a team in the 2022 Sapphire Series.^{[23] [24]}

Teams

Team	Home venue/base	Home city/town/suburb	Debut season
Bond University Bull Sharks^[25] ^[26]		Bond University	2019
Brisbane North Cougars^[27] ^[28]		North Brisbane	2019
Brisbane South Wildcats^[29] ^[30] ^[31]	Nissan Arena	South Brisbane	2019
Carina Leagues Club Tigers^[32] ^[33]		East Brisbane	2019
Darling Downs Panthers^[34] ^[35]	Downlands College	Toowoomba	2020
Gold Coast Titans		Gold Coast, Queensland	2022
Northern Mendi Rays^[36] ^[37]	Townsville Stadium	Townsville	2019
QUT Netball^[38] ^[39]	Nissan Arena	Queensland University of Technology	2021
USC Thunder^[40] ^[41] ^[42]	USC Stadium	University of the Sunshine Coast	2019
USQ Jets Netball Club^[43] ^[44]		Ipswich, Queensland	2019

Notes

• Brisbane South Wildcats were originally partnered with Queensland University of Technology and were known as QUT Wildcats.
• Darling Downs Panthers only play in the Ruby Series.
• Gold Coast Titans are the netball team of Gold Coast Titans
• USC Thunder were originally known as Moreton Bay Thunder. They are partnered with both the University of the Sunshine Coast and Sunshine Coast Lightning.
• USQ Jets Netball Club were originally known as Ipswich Jets. They are partnered with both the University of Southern Queensland and Ipswich Jets.

Venues

The majority of Sapphire Series matches are played at the Queensland State Netball Centre. Northern Rays play their home games in North Queensland, while the remaining teams can play two home games in their own venue each season.^{[9] [11]}

Representative team

Queensland Sapphires are the representative team of the HART Sapphire Series. They originally played as Queensland Fusion. In 2021 they were re-branded Queensland Sapphires after the Sapphire Series.^{[3] [45] [46] [47]}

Division 1 grand finals

Dairy Farmers Cup

Season	Winners	Score	Runners Up	Venue
2001^[48]	Brisbane North Cougars		Brisbane East Pumas ?
2002	Brisbane North Cougars
2003^[49]	Brisbane North Cougars		Brisbane West Pumas	Mount Gravatt
2004	Brisbane North Cougars

Holden Astra Cup

Season	Winners	Score	Runners Up	Venue
2005	Brisbane North Cougars
2006
2007	Brisbane North Cougars
2008^[50]	??? Tigers		Brisbane North Kedron Wavell Cougars	Mount Gravatt
2009^[51]	Brisbane South Wildcats		Brisbane North Kedron Wavell Cougars
2010	Brisbane North Cougars

Holden Cruze Cup

Season	Winners	Score	Runners Up	Venue
2011	Brisbane North Cougars	52–44	Carina Leagues Club Tigers	Logan Metro Indoor Sports Centre
2012^[52]	Carina Leagues Club Tigers	57–39	Kedron-Wavell Services Club Cougars

Queensland Champions Cup

Season	Winners	Score	Runners Up	Venue
2013^[53]	Brisbane North Cougars	66–53	Carina Leagues Club Tigers
2014	Carina Leagues Club Tigers	56–44	Suncoast Lynx

Queensland State Netball League Division 1

Season	Winners	Score	Runners Up	Venue
2015^[54]	Brisbane North Cougars		Carina Leagues Club Tigers
2016^[55]	Brisbane North Cougars	49–43	Carina Leagues Club Tigers
2017^[56]	Brisbane North Cougars	43–38	Carina Leagues Club Tigers
2018^[57]	Brisbane North Cougars		Goodna Services Brisbane Lions	Logan Metro Indoor Sports Centre

Sapphire Series

Season	Winners	Score	Runners Up	Venue
2019	QUT Wildcats	60–49	Brisbane North Cougars	QSNC
2020	Brisbane North Cougars	62–47	USQ Jets
2021^[58] ^[59]	Brisbane North Cougars	70–45	QUT Netball

Awards

Katie Walker MedalThe Sapphire Series MVP award is named after Katie Walker.^[60]

Season	Winner	Team
2019^[61]	Hulita Veve	QUT Wildcats
2020^[62]	Ava Black	Bond University Bull Sharks
2021^[63]	Leesa Mi Mi	Brisbane North Cougars

Sapphire Series Grand Final MVP:

Season	Winner	Team
2019	Dannielle Taylor	QUT Wildcats
2020	Ruby Bakewell-Doran	Brisbane North Cougars
2021

Ruby Series

Grand finals

Season	Winners	Score	Runners Up	Venue
2019^[64]	Carina Leagues Club Tigers	51–36	Ipswich Jets
2020^[65]	Carina Leagues Club Tigers	56–48	Brisbane North Cougars
2021^[66]	Brisbane North Cougars	58–39	Carina Leagues Club Tigers	Nissan Arena

Awards

Ruby Series Season MVP

Season	Winner	Team
2019	Martina Reekers
2020	Naomi Solomona	Ipswich Jets
2021

Ruby Series Grand Final MVP

Season	Winner	Team
2019	Shelley Rosanoff
2020	Reilley Batcheldor
2021	Monique Piuniti	Brisbane North Cougars

External links

• HART Sapphire Series on Facebook

Notes and References

1. Web site: HART Sapphire Series. sapphireseries.com.au. 8 January 2022.
2. Web site: HART Sapphire & Ruby Series. qld.netball.com.au. 8 January 2022.
3. Web site: Queensland Sapphires to be introduced to netball world at Championships in September. qld.netball.com.au. 27 July 2021. 26 December 2021.
4. Web site: About Brisbane North Cougars. www.brisbanenorthcougars.com.au. 9 January 2022.
5. Web site: 2011 Netball Queensland Annual Report. Netball Queensland. https://web.archive.org/web/20201011140521/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/netball-wp-assets/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2013/09/06203151/2011-Annual-Report.pdf. 11 October 2020. 12 August 2020.
6. Web site: Netball Queensland – Annual Report 2014. Netball Queensland. https://web.archive.org/web/20201012141852/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/netball-wp-assets/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2013/09/06195720/Netball-Qld-Annual-Report-2014-E-version-complete.pdf. 12 October 2020. 2 September 2020.
7. Web site: 2015 Netball Queensland Annual Report. Netball Queensland. https://web.archive.org/web/20201007193618/https://s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com/netball-wp-assets/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2013/09/06195326/2015-Netball-Queensland-Annual-Report-1.pdf. 7 October 2020. 12 August 2020.
8. Web site: Netball Queensland Game On 2018 Annual Report. qld.netball.com.au. 11 October 2020.
9. Web site: Netball's new next gen competition. thewomensgame.com. 5 October 2018. 9 January 2022.
10. Web site: Introduction to the HART Sapphire Series. sapphireseries.com.au. 20 May 2019. 12 January 2022.
11. Web site: The Official Launch of the HART Sapphire Series. sapphireseries.com.au. 20 May 2019. 12 January 2022.
12. Web site: Round 1 Match Report: USC Thunder vs. Bond University Bull Sharks. sapphireseries.com.au. https://web.archive.org/web/20200322034110/https://sapphireseries.com.au/round-1-match-report/. 22 March 2020. 25 June 2019. 15 January 2022.
13. Web site: Netball Queensland Game On 2019 Annual Report. qld.netball.com.au. 11 October 2020.
14. Web site: Fairytale ending for QUT Wildcats with first grand final win. sapphireseries.com.au. https://web.archive.org/web/20200315200503/https://sapphireseries.com.au/fairytale-ending-for-qut-wildcats-with-first-grand-final-win/. 15 March 2020. 14 October 2019. 8 January 2022.
15. Web site: Northern Rays look to the future. qld.netball.com.au. 12 June 2020. 8 January 2022.
16. Web site: Northern Rays look to the future as COVID pandemic brings 2020 season hopes to an end. sapphireseries.com.au. 15 June 2020. 12 January 2022.
17. Web site: Generation Next to shine in HART Sapphire and Ruby Series return. sapphireseries.com.au. 7 August 2020. 12 January 2022.
18. Web site: Netball Queensland Annual Report 2020. qld.netball.com.au. 3 January 2022.
19. Web site: Cougars secure championship in dominant display. sapphireseries.com.au. 23 November 2020. 8 January 2022.
20. Web site: QUT set to sparkle in HART Sapphire Series. sapphireseries.com.au. 16 December 2020. 12 January 2022.
21. Web site: HART Sapphire and Ruby Series set for new heights in 2021. sapphireseries.com.au. 7 April 2021. 12 January 2022.
22. Web site: Brisbane North Cougars 70–45 QUT . sapphireseries.com.au. https://web.archive.org/web/20220110143336/https://sapphireseries.com.au/event/winner-sf2-v-winner-pf/. 10 January 2022. 31 August 2021. 10 January 2022.
23. Web site: Welcome to Titans Netball. www.titans.com.au. 1 December 2021. 9 January 2022.
24. Web site: Gold Coast Titans' exciting entry to HART Sapphire Series. sapphireseries.com.au. 1 December 2021. 9 January 2022.
25. Web site: Bond University Netball. 3 September 2021. bond.edu.au.
26. Web site: Bond University Bull Sharks. sapphireseries.com.au. 8 January 2022.
27. Web site: Brisbane North Cougars Netball Club. www.brisbanenorthcougars.com.au. 9 January 2022.
28. Web site: Brisbane North Cougars. sapphireseries.com.au. 8 January 2022.
29. Web site: Wildcats. sapphireseries.com.au. 8 January 2022.
30. Web site: Brisbane South Netball - Wildcats coaching positions 2020 . qld.netball.com.au. 5 February 2020. 16 January 2022.
31. Web site: So what's the story with the Wildcats bibs?. sapphireseries.com.au. 10 November 2020. 12 January 2022.
32. Web site: Brisbane East Netball – Home of the Carina Leagues Club Tigers. brisbaneeastnetball.com.au. 23 August 2021.
33. Web site: CLC Tigers. sapphireseries.com.au. 8 January 2022.
34. Web site: Darling Downs Panthers. www.panthersnetball.com. 3 September 2021.
35. Web site: Darling Downs Panthers. sapphireseries.com.au. 8 January 2022.
36. Web site: Northern Mendi Rays. www.northernrays.com.au. 3 September 2021.
37. Web site: Northern Mendi Rays. sapphireseries.com.au. 8 January 2022.
38. Web site: Netball at QUT. www.qut.edu.au. 3 September 2021.
39. Web site: QUT Netball. sapphireseries.com.au. 8 January 2022.
40. Web site: USC Thunder. thundernetball.org.au. 3 September 2021.
41. Web site: USC Thunder. sapphireseries.com.au. 8 January 2022.
42. Web site: Elite Pathways. sunshinecoastlightning.com.au. 14 February 2022.
43. Web site: Jets Netball Club. www.ipswichjets.com. 3 September 2021.
44. Web site: USQ Jets Netball Club. sapphireseries.com.au. 8 January 2022.
45. Web site: ANC & Qld Sapphire. qld.netball.com.au. https://web.archive.org/web/20211226211130/https://qld.netball.com.au/australian-national-netball-league-qld-sapphire. 26 December 2021. 30 December 2021.
46. Web site: High hopes set for Australian Championships as Queensland Sapphires announce squad. qld.netball.com.au. 29 July 2021. 26 December 2021.
47. Web site: Queensland Sapphires look at options as Australian Netball Championships remodelled. qld.netball.com.au. 20 August 2021. 26 December 2021.
48. Web site: untitled. The Courier-Mail. 12 September 2003. 11 January 2022. . ProQuest.
49. Web site: NETBALL. The Courier-Mail. 8 September 2003. 11 January 2022. . ProQuest.
50. Web site: Go. The Courier-Mail. 10 September 2008. 11 January 2022. . ProQuest.
51. Web site: Wishing Wells' netball jackpot. www.couriermail.com.au. 21 January 2010. 13 March 2023.
52. Web site: Cruze to netball trophy for Carina Leagues Club Tigers. www.couriermail.com.au. 3 July 2012. 24 May 2021.
53. Web site: Brent O'Neill. Cougars pounce on rivals for title double. City North News. 18 July 2013. 11 January 2022. . ProQuest.
54. Web site: Carina Leagues Tigers motivated by a shot at redemption in the state netball finals. www.couriermail.com.au. The Courier-Mail. https://web.archive.org/web/20160419154944/https://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/southeast/carina-leagues-tigers-motivated-by-a-shot-at-redemption-in-the-state-netball-finals/news-story/60c5ba21ecf76ed3f259559c67f60461. 19 April 2016. 16 April 2016. 31 December 2021.
55. Web site: Brent O'Neill. Highs and lows in 2016. Northside Chronicle. 21 December 2016. 11 January 2022. . ProQuest.
56. Web site: Brent O'Neill. The highs and lows of '17. Northside Chronicle. 20 December 2017. 11 January 2022. . ProQuest.
57. Web site: Logan to host Queensland's premier netball competition finals this weekend. www.jimboombatimes.com.au. 14 September 2018. 11 January 2022.
58. Web site: Cougars v QUT in the Sapphire Netball Grand Final. www.couriermail.com.au. 31 August 2021. 10 January 2022.
59. Web site: HART Sapphire Series: Cougars v QUT Netball (Grand Final: 2021). www.youtube.com. 31 August 2021. 10 January 2022.
60. Web site: Queensland Firebirds re-name MV the Laura Geitz Medal . firebirds.net.au. 6 October 2019. 31 December 2021.
61. Web site: Hulita Veve on balancing mum life with elite netball on QUT team. www.couriermail.com.au. 18 April 2021. 15 January 2022.
62. Web site: MVP win for young netballer. PressReader. The Toowoomba Chronicle. 27 November 2020. 10 January 2022.
63. Web site:
    1. katiewalkermedal
    . www.facebook.com. 9 September 2021. 10 January 2022.
64. Web site: Queensland netball: Carina Leagues Tigers win Ruby Series. www.couriermail.com.au. 14 October 2019. 10 January 2022.
65. Web site: Tigers claim 2020 Ruby Series. sapphireseries.com.au. https://web.archive.org/web/20210123145832/https://sapphireseries.com.au/cougars-v-tigers-ruby-final-match-report/. 23 January 2021. 23 November 2020. 8 January 2022.
66. Web site: Queensland Ruby Series: Cougars v Tigers (Grand Final: 2021). www.youtube.com. 31 August 2021. 10 January 2022.
67. Web site: HART Sapphire Series Announcement. www.hartsport.com.au. 19 October 2018. 9 January 2022.
68. Web site: HART Sport secures Naming Rights for Netball Queensland's Inaugural Sapphire Series. www.ausleisure.com.au. 29 October 2018. 10 January 2022.