NZU21 Netball Team Named for Australian Tour

MEDIA RELEASE 26 June 2006

NZU21 Netball Team Named for Australian Tour

Seven new players have been selected in a fresh look NZU21 side announced today to play the Australian U21 team next month in Brisbane.

The team will depart New Zealand on 17 July and will play their Australian counterparts on Thursday 20 July, then Saturday 22 July as the curtain raiser for the first Silver Ferns v Australia test at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre.

The teams last played each other in the semi final of the World Youth Cup in Miami last year – a game the NZU21 team won 52-51 before going on to beat England 53-39 in the final. While five players in the current team went to the World Youth Netball Cup, only Anna Thompson and Jessica Tuki took the court in the semi final and final.

NZU21 Coach Yvette McCausland-Durie says the NZU21 team is an important step on the pathway to the Silver Ferns.

“This is a great opportunity for players to gain international experience, and to develop their game against the Australian style of play,”she said.

“This tour is really special because the Silver Ferns will be in the crowd for our first game. We are also playing the curtain-raiser for their first test, so the players will be able to see their role models in action.”

The NZU21 team is:
Hayley Crofts (Sting)
Rawinia Everitt (Diamonds)
Katrina Grant (Rebels)
Paula Griffin (Diamonds)
Jamilah Gupwell (Shakers)
Elizabeth Manu (Flames)
Grace Rasmussen (Diamonds)
Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit (Sting)
Anna Thompson (Flames)
Jade Topia (Flames)
Jessica Tuki (Rebels)
Nicola van Beek (Flames Development)

ENDS

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