The Jayco Australian Opals women’s national basketball team will commence the final stage of their preparation for London when they play their first European tour match tomorrow night, Friday 13 July against France in the United Kingdom.

The Jayco Opals will play the world number eight France at 5:00PM local UK time (2:00AM Saturday AEST) as part of the four-team ‘Game On Sheffield’ tournament at Ponds Forge International Sports Centre in Sheffield.

Our Australian women will then need to back-up as they play the host nation Great Britain on Saturday 14 July at 5:00PM local UK time (2:00AM Sunday AEST) at Motor Point Arena in Sheffield as part of the same tournament.

On Sunday 15 July at 12:00PM midday (9:00PM AEST) the Jayco Opals will close out the Game On Sheffield tournament with a match against African champions Angola back at the Ponds Forge International Sports Centre.

The Jayco Opals will then head to Lille in France where they will play their final three games before London. They will play world number six Brazil on Friday 20 July at 5:30PM local French time (1:30AM Saturday AEST) at the Villeneuve D’ Ascq stadium in Lille.

The next night (Saturday 21 July) they take on world number seven China at the Aulnoy stadium in Lille at 6:00PM local (2:00AM Sunday AEST) before rounding out their London preparation with a match against world number eight France on Sunday 22 July at 5:30PM local (1:30AM Monday AEST) at the Villeneuve D’ Ascq stadium.

The Boomers Australian men’s team are currently in training camp on the Gold Coast, and fly out to London on Saturday afternoon from Brisbane airport.

The Boomers will open the final phase of their preparation by taking on none other than world number two Spain. The Spaniards are expected to be at full strength and, given their team list has a bevy of NBA stars like brothers Pau and Marc Gasol, Rudy Fernandez and Serge Ibaka, they should provide the toughest of tests for the Boomers.  

The Boomers play two back-to-back games against Spain, who are the reigning European Champions and were Beijing Olympic silver medallists, with their first clash being on Tuesday 17 July in Granada, Spain at 8:40PM local Spanish time (4:40AM Wednesday AEST).

The Australians will then travel to Malaga in Spain to face the Spaniards again the next night, Wednesday 18 July, at 8:40PM local time (4:40AM Thursday AEST).

The Boomers then journey to Strasbourg in France for their final two preparation games. They will face world number 13 Brazil, who are expected to include NBA stars Nene Hilario and Anderson Verejao, at Rhenus Sports Arena in Strasbourg on Sunday 22 July at 7:30PM local French time (3:30AM Monday AEST).

The next night (Monday 23 July) the Boomers wrap up their Olympic preparations with a clash against Tony Parker’s French national team at the same venue at 7:30PM local time (3:30PM Tuesday AEST).

Jayco Opals European Pre-London Schedule

13 July – Jayco Opals vs. France - 5:00PM UK time (2:00AM AEST) - Sheffield, UK

14 July – Jayco Opals vs. Great Britain - 5:00PM UK time (2:00AM AEST) - Sheffield, UK

15 July – Jayco Opals vs. Angola - 12:00PM midday UK time (9:00PM AEST) - Sheffield, UK

20 July - Jayco Opals vs. Brazil - 5:30PM French time (1:30AM AEST) - Lille, France

21 July – Jayco Opals vs. China - 6:00PM French time (2:00AM AEST) - Lille France

22 July – Jayco Opals vs. France - 5:30PM French time (1:30AM AEST) - Lille, France

Boomers European Pre-London Schedule

17 July – Boomers vs. Spain - 8:40PM Spanish time (4:40AM AEST) - Granada, Spain

18 July - Boomers vs. Spain - 8:40PM Spanish time (4:40AM AEST) – Malaga, Spain

22 July – Boomers vs. Brazil - 7:30PM French time (3:30PM AEST) – Strasbourg, France

23 July – Boomers vs. France - 7:30PM French time (3:30PM AEST) – Strasbourg, France