Former Hoër Volkskool Heidelberg captain Sunè Barnard is continuing to make significant strides in her netball career after securing a place in the University of Johannesburg’s competitive programme.

Barnard, who matriculated from Hoër Volkskool Heidelberg in 2025, has already gained valuable experience at senior level despite being at the beginning of her career.

During her time at Volkies, she captained the school’s first team and established herself as one of the region’s leading young players.

Her performances also earned her selection for the Gauteng team and an opportunity to compete in the Telkom Netball League, South Africa’s premier semi-professional netball competition.

Following her matric year, Barnard was awarded a full scholarship to the University of Johannesburg, allowing her to combine her academic studies with high-level netball.

At UJ, she is developing under the guidance of former Proteas captain Bongiwe Msomi, gaining exposure to an environment that demands both technical ability and strong tactical awareness. Barnard’s progression has also been recognised on the national development pathway.

During the Spar Championships, she was selected to attend the U19 Protea trials, providing another important opportunity to test herself against some of the country’s top emerging players.

She is currently part of the UJ squad competing in the Varsity Cup, one of the country’s major university netball competitions.

UJ began its campaign on August 23, with a convincing 46-39 victory over Maties. The move to university netball represents another significant step in Barnard’s development as she transitions from school competition to a more demanding and competitive environment.

Her progress serves as a proud reminder of the talent being developed within the local school sports system.

With her experience, leadership qualities, and continued exposure to high-level competition, Barnard hopes to build on her strong foundation and establish herself as a prominent player in the years ahead.