Courtney Bruce and Sunday Aryang selected in Diamonds Team for Birmingham Commonwealth Games

WAIS netball graduates Courtney Bruce and Sunday Aryang have been selected in the Australian Diamonds Team for the 2022 Birmingham Commonwealth Games.

Goalkeeper Bruce, was part of the silver medal winning squad from the Gold Coast four years ago, and will be looking to stand on the top step of the podium this time.

Rising star Aryang will join Bruce in the defensive lineup with the pair experience playing together for the West Coast Fever in Suncorp Super Netball giving Australia an edge on their rivals.

Australian Diamonds head coach Stacey Marinkovich is excited for the squad to start working towards the Birmingham Games.

“Selection for any international series ‚Äì especially the Commonwealth Games ‚Äì is never easy.” Marinkovich said.

“We have such great depth of talent in Australian netball, across every position on the court, and I congratulate the 12 athletes who have been selected to compete at the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

“I’m incredibly excited to work with this group of athletes and build on our connection both on and off the court, starting with a training camp in Perth next month.”

Netball Australia CEO Kelly Ryan has congratulated the 12 athletes selected and said she hopes they can continue to build on Australia’s Games success.

“On behalf of Netball Australia, we congratulate the 12 athletes selected in the Australian Diamonds Commonwealth Games team,” Ryan said.

“This opportunity only comes around every four years, and we are all keen to see this team carry on Australia’s proud history in netball at Birmingham.”

Netball was first played at the Commonwealth Games as a demonstration sport at the Auckland 1990 Commonwealth Games, comprising a single match between Australia and New Zealand. The sport joined the full sport programme at the Kuala Lumpur 1998 Commonwealth Games.

England caused a major surprise when they defeated Australia 52-51 in the final at Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. Until then, Australia and New Zealand had played every gold-medal match at the Commonwealth Games.