Volleyball across the Tasman Sea features a deep, decades-long rivalry between the Australian Volleyroos and the New Zealand Volley Ferns/Volley Blacks. The history of these international test matches go way back to 1971, when the Australian Women’s team where the first to play a recorded International match against the New Zealand women in Adelaide after the Australian Championships. The Men followed not long after with a friendly match in 1972.
The two sides meet numerous times over the next 2 decades, with matches being played at various tournaments like Oceania Championships, Asian Championships and Invitational Tournaments.
In 1990 the Australian Men’s team established the Tasman Cup, playing a series of matches each year against the New Zealand team, usually alternating the hosting rights between the 2 countries. The Australian Women’s team eastablished their Trans Tasman Cup Series a few years later in 1992.
The Junior Men’s and Women’s teams also eastablished their own Trans Tasman series, the Men’s in 1994 and adopting its name The Murray Mansfield Trophy in 1998. The Junior Women’s series was named The Jenny Kirk Trophy and was also established in 1998.
The test series for the 4 age groups have been played on and off again since their inception, with the Senior Women’s team breathing some life back into the rivarly in 2024, and adopting the name name Richard Farmer Memorial Trophy in 2025.
Senior Men – Tasman Cup
Senior Women – Richard Farmer Memorial Trophy
The first captain of the New Zealand Women’s team in 1971, Maureen Booth, travelled with the Women’s team to Australia to reconnect with the team she helped build more than 50 years ago. During the tour, she presented the reinstalled Richard Farmer Memorial Cup, a trophy she originally donated in memory of her brother Richard Farmer, who passed away in 1972.
Junior Men – Murray Mansfield Trophy
Murray Mansfield has served volleyball in Australia with distinction as an official and volunteer for five decades. Murray was endorsed as an international referee for Australia and while now retired from the international stage, remains a stalwart Victoria official at national championships and events, including decades of service at the Australian Junior Volleyball Championships, the Australian Volleyball Schools Cup, and in support of the elite junior development camps in Bendigo, where he commenced his association with volleyball in the 1960s. It is through his support of the Australian Junior Men’s program camps in Bendigo over the years, that the Trans Tasmam trophy for the Junior Men has been named after him.
Junior Women – Jenny Kirk Trophy
Jenny’s contribution to volleyball spans more than three decades. First appearing in the NZ National U18 team in 1974, Jenny went on to represent New Zealand in the national senior team six years later. Her service to local, regional and national volleyball is significant; as an athlete – representing school, region and New Zealand at the highest levels; as a local administrator – responsible for the establishment of quality competitions and tournaments in Tauranga; as a long time Board member of the Tauranga Volleyball Club and Volleyball Bay of Plenty; as a coach and manager of school, club, regional and NZ representative teams and possibly her most recognised contribution is as a national team manager with the Junior Women’s team for almost two decades.
Australian Volleyball Team Archive 