Netball New Zealand is pleased to announce the Silver Ferns team of 12 travelling to the UK in January with the addition of four training partners.The team is: Casey Kopua (captain), Jodi Brown, Leana de Bruin, Shannon Francois, Katrina Grant, Joline Henry, Laura Langman, Cathrine Latu, Camilla Lees, Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit, Maria Tutaia, Irene van Dyk.
The four training partners are: Courtney Tairi (Silver Ferns squad), Bailey Mes (Silver Ferns squad, Phoenix Karaka (National Accelerant squad), Malia Paseka (National Accelerant squad).
The touring squad will play two exhibition matches against the Scotland Thistles in Glasgow.
| DATE | TEAMS | VENUE | CITY |
| Sunday January 12 | Silver Ferns v Scotland (exhibition) |
Emirates Arena | Glasgow, Scotland |
| Monday January 14 | Silver Ferns v Scotland (exhibition) |
Emirates Arena | Glasgow, Scotland |
The team will then travel to London for two test matches, the first against Jamaica and the second against England, rounding out the tour with an exhibition match against England A.
| DATE | TEAMS | CITY |
| Friday January 17 | Silver Ferns v Jamaica | London, England |
| Monday January 20 | Silver Ferns v England | London, England |
| Tuesday January 21 | Silver Ferns v England A (exhibition) | London, England |
The 16-day tour will be the last time the Silver Ferns assemble and play together before competing in July’s Commonwealth Games. Silver Ferns coach Waimarama Taumaunu says the UK Tour is an important one for the travelling group.
“We’ve had the opportunity to look back over the season and there are certainly some areas we need to improve and address.”“The team of 12 will have to work hard to maintain their spots and taking four training partners will enable us to continue to grow depth with some very important events ahead of us,” Taumaunu said.“This long haul tour is going to be vital to our preparations going forward as it will be the last time we have together before the Commonwealth Games.”The team arrive back in New Zealand on January 24 with all players injecting straight back into their ANZ Championship teams ahead of the March 1st start date. The ANZ Championship culminates late June after 17 weeks of competition with the Commonwealth Games netball component starting just one month later.
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For more information and media enquiries, please contact:Kerry Manders
Netball New Zealand Media & Communications Director
kerrym@netballnz.co.nz
021 410 970
