Constellation Cup
Encyclopedia
The Constellation Cup is contested by the Australian national netball team and the New Zealand national netball team. It is awarded each year to the team that wins the most test matches between the two.
The trophy
cup was first publicly unveiled in August 2010. Designed to be representative of Australia
and New Zealand
, its name is inspired by the Southern Cross constellation
which appears on both nations flags, and artists from both countries were involved in the manufacture of the cup. It consists of a sterling silver
cup encrusted with 101 diamonds, with a display case crafted from black maire (Nestegis cunninghamii), a wood species native to New Zealand.
The Governors-General of Australia
and New Zealand
worked in partnership with Netball New Zealand
and Netball Australia
to develop the cup concept and create the cup itself. The Governor-General of New Zealand, Sir Anand Satyanand, stated:
Both Governors-General attended the inaugural game of the first Constellation Cup series played in Adelaide
on 29 August 2010.
Australia became the first holders of the cup, defeating New Zealand 2 – 1 in the three game series of 2010.
The trophy
Trophy
A trophy is a reward for a specific achievement, and serves as recognition or evidence of merit. Trophies are most often awarded for sporting events, from youth sports to professional level athletics...
cup was first publicly unveiled in August 2010. Designed to be representative of Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, its name is inspired by the Southern Cross constellation
Constellation
In modern astronomy, a constellation is an internationally defined area of the celestial sphere. These areas are grouped around asterisms, patterns formed by prominent stars within apparent proximity to one another on Earth's night sky....
which appears on both nations flags, and artists from both countries were involved in the manufacture of the cup. It consists of a sterling silver
Sterling silver
Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% by mass of silver and 7.5% by mass of other metals, usually copper. The sterling silver standard has a minimum millesimal fineness of 925....
cup encrusted with 101 diamonds, with a display case crafted from black maire (Nestegis cunninghamii), a wood species native to New Zealand.
The Governors-General of Australia
Governor-General of Australia
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
and New Zealand
Governor-General of New Zealand
The Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state....
worked in partnership with Netball New Zealand
Netball New Zealand
Netball New Zealand is the national body which oversees, promotes and manages netball in New Zealand, including the Silver Ferns.Other competitions overseen include:*ANZ Championship – Premier Domestic Competition...
and Netball Australia
Netball Australia
Netball Australia is the peak governing body for the sport of netball in Australia. The organisation's stated objectives for Australian netball are to achieve national and international success in competition, encourage greater participation and spectator involvement, and ensure excellence in all...
to develop the cup concept and create the cup itself. The Governor-General of New Zealand, Sir Anand Satyanand, stated:
Almost 80 years ago, Lord BledisloeCharles Bathurst, 1st Viscount Bledisloe-External links:*...
, one of my predecessors as Governor-General gifted the cup that bears his nameBledisloe CupRugby Union's Bledisloe Cup is contested by the Australia national rugby union team and New Zealand national rugby union team. It is named after Lord Bledisloe, the former Governor-General of New Zealand who donated the trophy in 1931. The trophy was designed in New Zealand by Nelson Isaac, and...
and which has come to symbolise rivalry on the rugbyRugby unionRugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
field between Australia and New Zealand. The Constellation Cup will provide an equally enduring focus for netballers on both sides of the TasmanTasman SeaThe Tasman Sea is the large body of water between Australia and New Zealand, approximately across. It extends 2,800 km from north to south. It is a south-western segment of the South Pacific Ocean. The sea was named after the Dutch explorer Abel Janszoon Tasman, the first recorded European...
and recognise the wide participation in the sport.
Both Governors-General attended the inaugural game of the first Constellation Cup series played in Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
on 29 August 2010.
Australia became the first holders of the cup, defeating New Zealand 2 – 1 in the three game series of 2010.
List of Constellation Cup series
| Series | Years | Tests played | Tests won by Australia | Tests won by New Zealand | Tests drawn | Series result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2010 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | Australia (2-1) |
| 2 | 2011 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | Australia (3-2) |