BONUS - RUSTENBURG - The SPAR Proteas will kickstart 2026 with a SPAR Challenge three-test match series against Vitality Roses in January at Ellis Park Indoor Arena in Johannesburg. The last time South Africa faced England at home was back in 2023 during the Quad Series in Cape Town before facing them again during the Netball World Cup in the same year at the same venue.
Head Coach Jenny van Dyk has already faced the Vitality Roses twice during the Netball Nations Cup in 2024 where she lost one 61 – 55 and won one 61 – 59. The two nations will play each other between 29 January and 1 February 2026 at Ellis Park Indoor Arena, with the English set to arrive in the country two weeks earlier.
As a build up to this series, the SPAR Proteas will travel to Lilongwe in Malawi to compete in the Africa Nations Cup from 8 - 14 December 2025. The SPAR Proteas head into this tournament as African Champions and would want to defend their title and use this as a confidence booster going into the new year.
The SPAR Proteas will regroup and assemble camp early January in preparation for the series where van Dyk will confirm her final 15 player squad before the tournament commences.
