ANZ Championship

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ANZ Championship
SportNetball
Founded2007
Inaugural season2008
No. of teams10
Country Australia (5 teams)
 New Zealand (5 teams)
ContinentOceania
Most recent
champion(s)
Australia Queensland Firebirds (1st title)
Most titlesAustralia Adelaide Thunderbirds
Australia Melbourne Vixens
Australia New South Wales Swifts
Australia Queensland Firebirds (1 title each)
TV partner(s)
Related
competitions
Australia Commonwealth Bank Trophy (defunct)
New Zealand National Bank Cup (defunct)
Official websitewww.ANZ-Championship.com

The ANZ Championship is the most famous netball league in the world. The competition is held once a year between April and July. There are 69 matches played over 17 weeks. There are ten teams, five from Australia and five from New Zealand. ANZ Bank is the sponsor of the competition.

The ANZ Championship was started in 2008. It replaced the Commonwealth Bank Trophy in Australia and the National Bank Cup in New Zealand. Both of which were retired after 2007. The ANZ Championship saw netball become a semi-professional sport in both countries. There was more media coverage and higher player salaries. The current champions are the Queensland Firebirds, who defeated the Northern Mystics in the grand final of the 2011 season.

Current teams[change | change source]

Teams in the ANZ Championship
Teams Bases Main venues Former teams
Australia Adelaide Thunderbirds Adelaide ETSA Park Adelaide Thunderbirds
Melbourne Vixens Melbourne State Netball and Hockey Centre Melbourne Phoenix, Melbourne Kestrels
New South Wales Swifts Sydney Sydney Olympic Park Sports Centre Sydney Swifts, Hunter Jaegers
Queensland Firebirds Brisbane Brisbane Convention Centre Queensland Firebirds
West Coast Fever Perth Challenge Stadium Perth Orioles
New
Zealand
Canterbury Tactix Christchurch CBS Canterbury Arena Canterbury Flames
Central Pulse Wellington TSB Bank Arena Capital Shakers, Western Flyers
Northern Mystics Auckland Trusts Stadium Auckland Diamonds, Northern Force, CMTV Cometz
Southern Steel Invercargill Stadium Southland[1] Southern Sting, Otago Rebels
Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic Hamilton Mystery Creek Events Centre Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic