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. 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.
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.
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. The inaugural season began on 25 June 2019, with a match which saw Thunder defeat Bull Sharks 53–44. QUT Wildcats were the inaugural premiers after defeating Cougars 60–49 in the grand final.
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.
2021 The 2021 Sapphire Series featured eight teams with the return of Northern Rays and the debut of QUT Netball. Brisbane North Cougars finished the season as premiers after defeating QUT Netball 70–45 in the grand final.
2022 In December 2021 it was announced that Gold Coast Titans would enter a team in the 2022 Sapphire Series.
Teams Team Home venue/base Home city/town/suburb Debut seasonBond University Bull Sharks Bond University2019Brisbane North Cougars North Brisbane2019Brisbane South WildcatsNissan ArenaSouth Brisbane2019 Carina Leagues Club Tigers East Brisbane2019Darling Downs PanthersDownlands CollegeToowoomba2020Gold Coast Titans Gold Coast, Queensland2022Northern Mendi RaysTownsville StadiumTownsville2019QUT NetballNissan ArenaQueensland University of Technology2021USC ThunderUSC StadiumUniversity of the Sunshine Coast2019USQ Jets Netball Club Ipswich, Queensland2019
Notes Brisbane South Wildcats were originally partnered with Queensland University of Technology and were known as QUT Wildcats. Darling Downs Panthers only play in the Ruby Series. Gold Coast Titans are the netball team of Gold Coast Titans USC Thunder were originally known as Moreton Bay Thunder. They are partnered with both the University of the Sunshine Coast and Sunshine Coast Lightning. USQ Jets Netball Club were originally known as Ipswich Jets. They are partnered with both the University of Southern Queensland and Ipswich Jets.
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.
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.
Division 1 grand finals Dairy Farmers Cup Season Winners Score Runners up Venue2001Brisbane North Cougars Brisbane East Pumas ?2002Brisbane North Cougars 2003Brisbane North Cougars Brisbane West PumasMount Gravatt2004Brisbane North Cougars Holden Astra Cup Season Winners Score Runners up Venue2005Brisbane North Cougars 2006 2007Brisbane North Cougars 2008??? Tigers Brisbane North Kedron Wavell CougarsMount Gravatt2009Brisbane South Wildcats Brisbane North Kedron Wavell Cougars2010Brisbane North Cougars Holden Cruze Cup Season Winners Score Runners up Venue2011Brisbane North Cougars52–44Carina Leagues Club TigersLogan Metro Indoor Sports Centre2012Carina Leagues Club Tigers57–39Kedron-Wavell Services Club Cougars Queensland Champions Cup Season Winners Score Runners up Venue2013Brisbane North Cougars66–53Carina Leagues Club Tigers2014Carina Leagues Club Tigers56–44Suncoast Lynx Queensland State Netball League Division 1 Season Winners Score Runners up Venue2015Brisbane North Cougars Carina Leagues Club Tigers2016Brisbane North Cougars49–43Carina Leagues Club Tigers2017Brisbane North Cougars43–38Carina Leagues Club Tigers2018Brisbane North Cougars Goodna Services Brisbane LionsLogan Metro Indoor Sports Centre
Sapphire Series Season Winners Score Runners up Venue2019QUT Wildcats60–49Brisbane North CougarsQSNC2020Brisbane North Cougars62–47USQ Jets2021Brisbane North Cougars70–45QUT Netball
Awards Katie Walker Medal The Sapphire Series MVP award is named after Katie Walker.
Season Winner Team2019Hulita VeveQUT Wildcats2020Ava BlackBond University Bull Sharks2021Leesa Mi MiBrisbane North Cougars Sapphire Series Grand Final MVP Season Winner Team2019Dannielle TaylorQUT Wildcats2020Ruby Bakewell-DoranBrisbane North Cougars2021
Ruby Series Grand finals Season Winners Score Runners up Venue2019Carina Leagues Club Tigers51–36Ipswich Jets2020Carina Leagues Club Tigers56–48Brisbane North Cougars2021Brisbane North Cougars58–39Carina Leagues Club TigersNissan Arena
Awards Ruby Series Season MVP Season Winner Team2019Martina Reekers2020Naomi SolomonaIpswich Jets2021 Ruby Series Grand Final MVP Season Winner Team2019Shelley RosanoffCarina Leagues Club Tigers2020Reilley BatcheldorCarina Leagues Club Tigers2021Monique PiunitiBrisbane North Cougars
Main sponsors YearsHart Sport2019–
References
External links HART Sapphire Series on Facebook