Silver Ferns Netball World Cup team named   2 Jul 2015

Netball New Zealand (NNZ) National Selectors have picked a 12-strong Silver Ferns team featuring a mix of youth and experience to contest the Netball World Cup SYDNEY 2015 (NWC2015) in August.

Inspirational Silver Ferns captain Casey Kopua has fulfilled her ambition of earning her place in the team after a lengthy rehabilitation following a serious knee injury sustained last October while senior players Leana de Bruin, Laura Langman and Maria Tutaia have also secured their places.

“We’ve had some tough contesting for places over the past few days,” Silver Ferns coach Waimarama Taumaunu said.

“It was imperative that we selected on form, and it’s important to have versatile playing combinations and this group provides that. There is no doubt this has been the toughest selection process in the last four years but that is what you expect in a World Cup year”.

Eleven players have been selected from the wider Silver Ferns Squad for 2014-2015 with talented young shooter Malia Paseka the only new face in the team elevated from the National Development Squad.

Silver Ferns Team:
Jodi Brown (Central), Kayla Cullen (Northern), Leana de Bruin (WBOP), Shannon Francois (South), Katrina Grant (Central), Phoenix Karaka (South), Casey Kopua (WBOP), Laura Langman (Northern), Bailey Mes (Mainland), Malia Paseka (WBOP), Grace Rasmussen (WBOP) and Maria Tutaia (Northern).

Twenty year old Paseka caught the eye of selectors in 2013, a standout for the New Zealand Under 21 team which won gold at the World Youth Netball Championships in Scotland. Later that year, Paseka was named as one of four training partners to accompany the Silver Ferns on their tour of England and Scotland. Playing for the Kia Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in 2014-15, Paseka’s game has continued to grow.

It will be the first Netball World Cup for Paseka, Cullen, Karaka, Mes, Rasmussen and Francois, with only Brown and de Bruin having tasted Netball World Cup success in Jamaica in 2003.

New Zealanders will get their opportunity to support the Silver Ferns on their road to the Netball World Cup with the New World Netball Series competing for the Taini Jamison Trophy in July, when they face Fiji and South Africa.

Netball World Cup SYDNEY 2015 will be held at Sydney Olympic Park from August 7 – 16. The Silver Ferns begin their campaign against Barbados on Friday 7 August at Allphones Arena. All Silver Ferns matches will be broadcast in New Zealand on SKY Sport.

Also named this afternoon is the NZA team which will travel to Sydney before the NWC2015 gaining valuable international game experience against England and 21/U Australia.

NZA Team:
Gina Crampton (South), Temalisi Fakahokotau (Northern), Ellen Halpenny (WBOP), Cathrine Latu (Northern), Camilla Lees (Northern), Jamie-Lee Price (WBOP), Storm Purvis (South), Te Paea Selby-Rickit (South), Samantha Sinclair (WBOP), Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick (Northern), Zoe Walker (Mainland), Ameliaranne Wells (Central).

The NZA team will be coached by Kiri Wills, assisted by Janine Southby.

ENDS

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