Players confirmed for Silver Ferns camp

Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua has invited 25 of New Zealand’s leading Netballers to next month’s Silver Ferns camp where her focus is four-fold.

 The Silver Ferns camp in Auckland in early December is where Taurua will continue her build-up to next year’s Netball World Cup in England.   

“It’s certainly going to be all-encompassing for our immediate goals of January’s Netball Quad Series and the Netball World Cup. but also the chance to consolidate relationships in many areas with an eye on the future,” Taurua said.

“It’s a fine balancing act and very important for the growth of our sport and to the Silver Ferns success. We need to provide as many opportunities to players and coaches so that we keep our options open, create internal competition, and ultimately raise the quality and standard of our game.”

The pre-Christmas camp is also an opportunity to simulate the format and intensity they can expect to face at the Netball World Cup in Liverpool (July), with back-to-back games, fitness testing sessions, and trainings over five days.

All six ANZ Premiership franchise coaches have also been invited to take some part in the Silver Ferns camp.

Taurua believed it was a key step in the Silver Ferns’ development to forge a closer working relationship with the franchise coaches.

“It’s really important to me to continue to build and strengthen those relationships so that the coaches, who have these players for such a large chunk of the season, are firstly acknowledged for the work they do with these players but also understand the Ferns environment, standards that are required,  and the plan moving forward so we are all on this journey together,” Taurua said.

The next selection for the new national coach to consider will be for January’s Netball Quad Series tour to England where the Silver Ferns will meet Australia, South Africa and England.

The 12 players to travel to Liverpool and London for the Netball Quad Series will be named on Friday, 14 December.

“It was exciting to see the progress that we have made in such a short time but I also know we have a lot of work to do. It is important to keep that momentum going,” Taurua said. 

“There is no let-up for the players with the Netball Quad Series, ANZ Premiership and next year’s Netball World Cup, which makes this camp such an important one.”

Taurua has looked to the Silver Ferns Development Squad to join the Auckland camp along with defender Erena Mikaere who links up with the Northern Mystics next year after time playing in Australia.

Defenders Casey Kopua and Kelly Jury will also be in action after recovering from injuries sustained during the ANZ Premiership.

Pre-Christmas training camp:

Silver Ferns Squad

Karin Burger
Gina Crampton
Aliyah Dunn
Ameliaranne Ekenasio
*Temalisi Fakahokotau (still in rehab after ACL surgery)
Maria Folau
Katrina Grant
Kelly Jury
Casey Kopua
Laura Langman
Bailey Mes
Te Paea Selby-Rickit
Samantha Sinclair
Michaela Sokolich-Beatson
Elisapeta Toeava
Jane Watson
Maia Wilson

Additional Players

Monica Falkner
Sulu Fitzpatrick
Shannon Francois
Claire Kersten
Erena Mikaere
Erikana Pedersen
Kimiora Poi
Whitney Souness

2019 Netball Quad Series: 

South Africa v Australia, Sunday 13 January – Echo Arena, Liverpool
England v New Zealand, Sunday 13 January – Echo Arena, Liverpool
Australia v New Zealand, Saturday 19 January – Copperbox, London
England v South Africa, Saturday 19 January – Copperbox, London
South Africa v New Zealand, Sunday 20 January – Copperbox, London
England v Australia, Sunday 20 January – Copperbox, London