\t\t\tFresh off a strong finish in Malawi, South Africa\u2019s men lead the charge while the SPAR Proteas Women prepare for a highly anticipated series against England.<\/p>\n
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South Africa (07 January 2026) \u2013 South African netball heads into the new year with confidence and big match-ups on the horizon, following a strong end to 2025. Both the Proteas Men and the SPAR Proteas Women prepare for key international assignments with an exciting international schedule ahead.<\/p>\n
The tone will be set by the Proteas Men, who open the year with the SPAR Challenge Pre-Match Series against the Australian Kelpies. It\u2019s a fixture that promises intensity, skill and a proper early test against international opposition, giving local fans a glimpse of what lies ahead for the men\u2019s game.<\/p>\n
That confidence hasn\u2019t come out of nowhere. The men ended 2025 on a high<\/a> at the Africa Netball Cup in Lilongwe, Malawi, where they delivered a composed and clinical performance in the final against Zimbabwe. From the opening whistle, South Africa controlled the tempo. And they hope it won\u2019t be any different against Australia.<\/p>\n While the men take centre stage early, the SPAR Proteas Women are also gearing up for a significant start to the year. They will kick off their 2026 campaign with a SPAR Challenge three-Test series against England\u2019s Vitality Roses<\/a>, set to take place at the Ellis Park Indoor Arena in Johannesburg.<\/p>\n The series marks England\u2019s return to South African soil for the first time since 2023, when the two sides met during the Quad Series in Cape Town, before locking horns again later that year at the Netball World Cup, also hosted in the Mother City. Those encounters added another chapter to a growing rivalry.<\/p>\n The Tests will be played between 29 January and 1 February, offering the SPAR Proteas Women an early opportunity to measure themselves against one of the world\u2019s top netball nations, while also setting the tone for a busy international year ahead.<\/p>\n Together, the men\u2019s pre-match series against Australia and the women\u2019s clash with England reflect a South Africa that\u2019s competitive and ready to take on the challenge in 2026.<\/p>\n Sources: Linked Above\u00a0 Or catch an episode of\u00a0Good Things with Brent Lindeque<\/a>\u00a0or our\u00a0Weekly Top 5<\/a>\u00a0below. The videos here are always changing, updated with the latest episodes from these two shows. Both are part of Good Things TV, created to bring South Africans balance at a time when the news can feel overwhelmingly negative. Our goal is simple: to remind you that there are still so many good things happening in our country \u2013 and to leave you feeling a little more proudly South African.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t
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