Regional Academy Netball Challenge Showcases Future Stars in WollongongWritten on the 9 October 2025 by RASi  "Regional Academy Netball Challenge Showcases Future Stars in Wollongong")
Proudly sponsored by Destination Wollongong, the event provided a vital development pathway for young netballers to showcase their skills, grow their game, and experience high-level competition in a supportive and community-focused environment. All 11 Regional Academies of Sport (RAS) were represented, alongside the Sydney Netball Academy, making this one of the most inclusive and competitive editions of the Challenge to date. This year also marked a milestone, with the Illawarra Academy of Sport hosting the event for the first time. The Regional Academy Netball Challenge is structured in two parts. Saturday featured the official Challenge Day, where athletes were split into mixed teams and tested in a series of matches organised by Netball NSW. Sunday and Monday featured academy teams divided into two divisions and games being played against one another, with the finals held on Monday afternoon. Each game was officiated by RAS netball umpire athletes, adding to the development opportunities for all the athletes involved. Congratulations to the division winners and runners-up, and a special recognition goes to the individual award recipients. Division winners and runners-up Division 1 Winner: Western Sydney Academy of Sport Runner-up: Hunter Academy of Sport Division 2 Winner: Sydney Netball Academy Runner-up: Western Sydney Academy of Sport Individual award recipients
Samantha May, State Performance and Pathways Manager for Netball NSW, commented on the event, “The Regional Academy Netball Challenge was the perfect way to round out the 2025 Netball RASi program. Day 1 was Challenge Day, creating a unique environment for learning, competition, and opportunity to work with people outside their academy. Watching teams thrive in unfamiliar settings and coaches work across academy lines truly showcased the spirit of development and excellence that defines our pathway.” “Day 2 and 3 saw all academies back into their academy teams, putting into action the technical and tactical skills they have been learning across block two of the program. For our netball umpire athletes, across the 3 days, 10 umpires were awarded B and C badges and further access to umpire coach mentoring from some of the best in the state.” May finished. Brett O’Farrell, CEO of Regional Academies of Sport Ltd, praised the event’s impact: “The Netball Challenge is a brilliant example of what happens when opportunity meets talent. It’s more than just competition – it’s about building confidence, connection and pathways for young athletes to thrive. We’re proud to see our regional academies come together to deliver such a high-quality experience for the next generation of netball stars.” The Regional Academies of Sport continue to play a crucial role in nurturing young talent and providing opportunities for athletes to thrive both on and off the court. The Netball Challenge is a testament to the strength of regional sport and the bright future of netball in NSW. The Regional Academies of Sport would like to thank the event’s valued sponsors and partners for making the 2025 Regional Academy Netball Challenge possible: Netball NSW, Destination Wollongong, Greater Bank, Illawarra Sports Stadium, Illawarra District Netball Association, Aceit, BaiMed, Illawarra First Aid Services, The Fraternity Club, and Jill Bennett Photography. Author:RASi About: Regional Academies of Sport |
