Netball around the world

After the recent Nations Cup in Singapore, and several international Test matches, there have been some changes to the IFNA International Rankings table. After their victories in all three matches against Scotland, Wales move up to 11th place, ahead of Northern Ireland which now sits in 12th position. Singapore moves up two to 19th, while Sri Lanka drops two places to 20th. Malaysia steps up to 22nd in the world from 23rd, while Tanzania and Canada both move down one position. For the full rankings table, and how it is calculated, visit the Rankings section of the IFNA website.

Vanuatu's netballers have increased their international experience in recent weeks: following the visit from Aztecs earlier this year, two Vanuatu teams, supported by sponsorship from Westpac and travelled to Tasmania where they played a number of matches, including fixtures against Latrobe High School, where many of the Aztecs players study. In addition, Vanuatu fielded teams at the 14th Golden Oldies Netball Festival in Fiji, with several new players taking to the court for their country. In domestic competition, Port Vila emerged victorious at the National Netball Series for 2011, with an undefeated record over three days of competition, and will host the Series in 2012.

In Pakistan, the Punjab Netball Association has announced that it will be staging the 10th National Women’s Netball Championships at the LUMS University, Lahore from 6-9 February in association with the Pakistan Netball Federation. 14 teams have confirmed their participation for the competition, including defending champions, Sindh. The top five ranked sides will qualify for the 32nd National Games, to be played in Lahore in October/November.

New Zealand's Netball Southland has appointed an Australian rugby league official as its new chief executive. Queenslander David Bannister will also take on the chief executive's position for the Southern Steel in the ANZ Championships, replacing Julie Paterson who is transferring to the Mystics franchise. Bannister has been the education and development manager for Queensland Rugby League for the past two years and previously spent nine years with Queensland Cricket in both management and development roles.

Leading Tanzanian club side Filbert Bayi (named after its owner, Olympic Silver Medallist, Filbert Bayi) has announced plans to sign several Malawian players on loan for the forthcoming season to help to improve playing standards and increase netball's participation in the region. This continues the partnership started in 2011, when legendary Malawian attacking star Mary Waya and emerging centre courter Takondwa Lwazi joined Filbert Bayi for the Tanzanian National Championships, while Waya also conducted a number of coaching courses across the country.

Finally, another Malawian, international shooter Mwayi Kumwende (pictured below in action against Australia at last year's World Netball Championships) returns to Australia this week to take up her second eight month contract with Victoria Netball League (VNL) club side Peninsula Waves, as part of an agreement which is renewable for three years. 22 year old Kumwenda had a very successful first season at Waves, taking her side's player of the season award as well as achieving selection to the VNL All Star team.