Sapphire Series

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]

Sapphire Series
SportNetball
Founded2019
Owner(s)Netball Queensland
No. of teams10 (2022)
CountryAustralia
Venue(s)Queensland State Netball Centre
Most recent
champion(s)		Brisbane North Cougars (2021)
Most titlesBrisbane North Cougars
(2 titles)
Sponsor(s)Hart Sport
Level on pyramid3
Official websiteSapphire Series

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 University2019
Brisbane North Cougars[27][28]North Brisbane2019
Brisbane South Wildcats[29][30][31]Nissan ArenaSouth Brisbane2019
Carina Leagues Club Tigers[32][33]East Brisbane2019
Darling Downs Panthers[34][35]Downlands CollegeToowoomba2020
Gold Coast Titans[23][24]Gold Coast, Queensland2022
Northern Mendi Rays[36][37]Townsville StadiumTownsville2019
QUT Netball[20][38][39]Nissan ArenaQueensland University of Technology2021
USC Thunder[40][41][42]USC StadiumUniversity of the Sunshine Coast2019
USQ Jets Netball Club[43][44]Ipswich, Queensland2019
Notes

Source:[9]

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 CougarsBrisbane East Pumas ?
2002Brisbane North Cougars
2003[48][49]Brisbane North CougarsBrisbane West PumasMount Gravatt
2004Brisbane North Cougars
Holden Astra Cup
Season Winners Score Runners Up Venue
2005Brisbane North Cougars
2006
2007[50]Brisbane North Cougars
2008[50]??? TigersBrisbane North Kedron Wavell CougarsMount Gravatt
2009[51]Brisbane South WildcatsBrisbane North Kedron Wavell Cougars
2010Brisbane North Cougars
Holden Cruze Cup
Season Winners Score Runners Up Venue
2011[5]Brisbane North Cougars52–44Carina Leagues Club TigersLogan Metro Indoor Sports Centre
2012[52]Carina Leagues Club Tigers57–39Kedron-Wavell Services Club Cougars
Queensland Champions Cup
Season Winners Score Runners Up Venue
2013[6][53]Brisbane North Cougars66–53Carina Leagues Club Tigers
2014[6]Carina Leagues Club Tigers56–44Suncoast Lynx
Queensland State Netball League Division 1
Season Winners Score Runners Up Venue
2015[54]Brisbane North CougarsCarina Leagues Club Tigers
2016[55]Brisbane North Cougars49–43Carina Leagues Club Tigers
2017[56]Brisbane North Cougars43–38Carina Leagues Club Tigers
2018[8][57]Brisbane North CougarsGoodna Services Brisbane LionsLogan Metro Indoor Sports Centre
Sapphire Series
Season Winners Score Runners Up Venue
2019[13][14]QUT Wildcats60–49Brisbane North CougarsQSNC
2020[18][19]Brisbane North Cougars62–47USQ Jets
2021[22][58][59]Brisbane North Cougars70–45QUT Netball

Source:[4]

Awards
Katie Walker Medal

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

Season Winner Team
2019[30][60][61]Hulita VeveQUT Wildcats
2020[18][19][62]Ava BlackBond University Bull Sharks
2021[63]Leesa Mi MiBrisbane North Cougars
Sapphire Series Grand Final MVP
Season Winner Team
2019[14]Dannielle TaylorQUT Wildcats
2020[18][19]Ruby Bakewell-DoranBrisbane North Cougars
2021

Ruby Series

Grand finals
Season Winners Score Runners Up Venue
2019[13][64]Carina Leagues Club Tigers51–36Ipswich Jets
2020[18][65]Carina Leagues Club Tigers56–48Brisbane North Cougars
2021[66]Brisbane North Cougars58–39Carina Leagues Club TigersNissan Arena

Awards
Ruby Series Season MVP
Season Winner Team
2019[60]Martina Reekers
2020[18][65]Naomi SolomonaIpswich Jets
2021
Ruby Series Grand Final MVP
Season Winner Team
2019[64]Shelley RosanoffCarina Leagues Club Tigers
2020[18][65]Reilley BatcheldorCarina Leagues Club Tigers
2021Monique PiunitiBrisbane North Cougars

Main sponsors
Years
Hart Sport[67][68]2019–        

References
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