Some of the Riverina’s best netballers descended on Wagga recently for the chance to be selected for the Regional League competition, with many putting themselves in the frame to make the Sydney big league.

Players aged 16 and up from Barellan, Griffith, Tumut, Leeton, Young and Wagga, competed in the two-day event at Wagga’s PCYC. From the nine Riverina teams, only 12 players will be selected, with four teams competing in Division One, and five teams competing in Division Two.

“This is the top line of competition that we can play in the Riverina. From this we’re looking at players we select in the team to have a pathway position in Sydney,” Riverina Regional Manager for Netball NSW Amanda McLaughlin said.

“We’ve had about seven players from the Riverina in the last two years get selected in the Riverina team and go to Sydney, and then they’ve been picked up by Sydney teams to play on their Premier League, which is the top of the New South Wales competition, so it’s a big thing.

Players aren’t the only ones being selected; 12 umpires from across the Riverina are vying for selection for a position with the Regional League team in a pathway position.

Those selected won’t find out until June, ahead of the tournament in October, when they will compete against representative teams from each NSW region: The Hunter and Central Coast, West Central West, South Coast, North West, North Coast, and the Riverina.

In October, there will be scouts coming from all different Premier League clubs in Sydney that will tap players on the shoulder and say, “we’d like you to come to our trials in 2027 for our state teams.”

Those who get into a Premier League team can then be looked at for the Giants or the Sydney Swifts academy teams and from there progress to the Sydney Swifts or the Giants Netball team.

The pinnacle is to play for the Australian Diamonds, one of the world’s most successful sporting teams that consistently rank number one, with 12 World Cup wins, four Commonwealth Games gold medals and multiple Constellation Cup titles. The Diamonds are reigning champions ahead of the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney.

Barellan’s netball teams outclassed everyone to make it a one-two Division One final thriller that was pushed into extra time after ending in a draw. The final score: Barellan 1 beat Barellan 2, 31-26.

Barellan 1 captain Jenna Richards says the Regional League competition gives country netball players a chance to play at the top level.

Barellan 1 player Inez McPherson, 17, was selected for a Sydney Premier League side, and has moved to a Sydney boarding school which allows her to play netball when she is not studying for her Higher School Certificate.