Sapphire Series


The Sapphire Series 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

;Notes
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

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
SeasonWinnersScoreRunners upVenue
2001Brisbane North CougarsBrisbane East Pumas ?
2002Brisbane North Cougars-
2003Brisbane North CougarsBrisbane West PumasMount Gravatt
2004Brisbane North Cougars

;Holden Astra Cup
SeasonWinnersScoreRunners upVenue
2005Brisbane North Cougars
2006
2007Brisbane North Cougars-
2008??? TigersBrisbane North Kedron Wavell CougarsMount Gravatt
2009Brisbane South WildcatsBrisbane North Kedron Wavell Cougars
2010Brisbane North Cougars

;Holden Cruze Cup
SeasonWinnersScoreRunners upVenue
2011Brisbane North Cougars52–44Carina Leagues Club TigersLogan Metro Indoor Sports Centre
2012Carina Leagues Club Tigers57–39Kedron-Wavell Services Club Cougars

;Queensland Champions Cup
SeasonWinnersScoreRunners upVenue
2013Brisbane North Cougars66–53Carina Leagues Club Tigers
2014Carina Leagues Club Tigers56–44Suncoast Lynx

;Queensland State Netball League Division 1
SeasonWinnersScoreRunners upVenue
2015Brisbane North CougarsCarina Leagues Club Tigers
2016Brisbane North Cougars49–43Carina Leagues Club Tigers
2017Brisbane North Cougars43–38Carina Leagues Club Tigers
2018Brisbane North CougarsGoodna Services Brisbane LionsLogan Metro Indoor Sports Centre

;Sapphire Series
SeasonWinnersScoreRunners upVenue
2019QUT Wildcats60–49Brisbane North CougarsQSNC
2020Brisbane North Cougars62–47USQ Jets
2021Brisbane North Cougars70–45QUT Netball

Awards

;Katie Walker Medal
The Sapphire Series MVP award is named after Katie Walker.
SeasonWinnerTeam
2019Hulita VeveQUT Wildcats
2020Ava BlackBond University Bull Sharks
2021Leesa Mi MiBrisbane North Cougars

;Sapphire Series Grand Final MVP:
SeasonWinnerTeam
2019Dannielle TaylorQUT Wildcats
2020Ruby Bakewell-DoranBrisbane North Cougars
2021

Ruby Series

Grand finals

Awards

;Ruby Series Season MVP
SeasonWinnerTeam
2019Martina Reekers
2020Naomi SolomonaIpswich Jets
2021

;Ruby Series Grand Final MVP
SeasonWinnerTeam
2019Shelley RosanoffCarina Leagues Club Tigers
2020Reilley BatcheldorCarina Leagues Club Tigers
2021Monique PiunitiBrisbane North Cougars

Main sponsors