2021 Taini Jamison Trophy Series

England and New Zealand last played each other in 2020. New Zealand won that series 3–0.[1] The 2021 series was used as preparation for the 2022 Commonwealth Games,[2][3] and the teams were competing for the Taini Jamison Trophy.[4] All matches were played at the Christchurch Arena.[4] In New Zealand, all matches of the series were broadcast on Sky Sport, and were then re-run later in the day on free-to-air channel TVNZ 2.[5] In the United Kingdom, all matches were broadcast on Sky Sports.[3]

The England team arrived in New Zealand in late August 2021, as they had to isolate on arrival.[2] Four Australian-based England players were unable to travel to New Zealand for the series due to COVID-19 related travel restrictions between the two countries. The players in question were Natalie Haythornthwaite, Stacey Francis-Bayman, Helen Housby and Jo Harten.[6] New Zealand's preparations for the series were disrupted by a COVID-19 lockdown in Auckland and restrictions in Wellington, which prevented players from training with each other prior to the series.[4] Because of the Auckland lockdown, many staff members including team manager Esther Molloy were unable to travel and so missed the series. Four Auckland-based players including captain Gina Crampton were given a government exemption to travel, thus allowing them to compete in the series.[4]

Following this series, England were originally scheduled to play a series in Australia in October 2021,[2] though the series was later cancelled due to changes in COVID travel rules between Australia and New Zealand.[8] New Zealand were also scheduled to tour Australia in October 2021, but that series was replaced by invitational matches against a New Zealand men's netball team.[4]