Cape Town to stage Netball World Cup in 2023

FILE PHOTO: Caitlin Bassett (R) of Australia reaches for the ball as Laura Langman of New Zealand tries to defend during their Netball World Cup final game in Sydney, Australia, August 16, 2015. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo

CAPE TOWN (Reuters) - Cape Town will host the 2023 Netball World Cup, the first time the global event has been staged on the African continent, the International Netball Federation (INF) announced on Thursday.

The South African coastal city beat off competition from the New Zealand's Auckland, which has hosted the event on three previous occasions, the last in 2007.

"The INF Board decided that the significant investment that the South African government and Western Cape (province) were prepared to make over the next four years in netball facilities and coaching programmes in South Africa, the African continent and beyond would deliver a greater impact on the development of global netball," the INF said in a statement.

FILE PHOTO: Natalie Medhurst (L) of Australia and team mate Renae Hallinan (R) defend against Grace Rasmussen of New Zealand during their Netball World Cup final game in Sydney, Australia, August 16, 2015. REUTERS/David Gray/File Photo

Liverpool will host the 2019 global showpiece over July 12-21, with Australia defending the title they won in Sydney four years ago.

(Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by David Goodman)