USC Thunder is one of the 7
licences that compete in the coveted Hart Sapphire Series, the premier state
league competition in Queensland.
Based at the University of the
Sunshine Coast’s High Performance Sports Precinct, USC Thunder is providing a
valuable step in the pathway between grassroots netballers and Sunshine Coast
Lightning, the two-time Suncorp Super Netball champions.
Lead by Head coach Garry Pashen,
USC will play their home games at the USC Stadium in Sippy Downs and away games
at the new Queensland State Netball Centre in Brisbane.
The Sapphire Series is a
semi-professional tournament run by Netball Queensland to give players, coaches
and umpires a platform to impress for spots on the rosters of Australian
Netball League and Suncorp Super Netball squads. USC Thunder will also boost
the development of netball in the region by hosting a team in the second-tier
Ruby Series, which showcases the best of the state’s emerging talent. The USC
Netball Academy is also connected to the Thunder family providing coaching and
umpiring pathways as well as elite coaching and preparation for Sunshine Coast
based players to one day represent USC Thunder and Sunshine Coast Lightning in
the SSN competition.
USC Thunder is supported by
netball clubs from the Sunshine Coast to Caboolture in the south, through
Gympie, Bundaberg and Rockhampton in the north, and as far west as Longreach.
The wide-ranging catchment ensures USC Thunder will attract the best talent
from across the region.
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