Former captain Katrina Rore, shooter Bailey Mes, midcourter Shannon Saunders and defender Phoenix Karaka have all been recalled to the Silver Ferns squad for the Netball World Cup in Liverpool in July.
Katrina Rore has been recalled to the Silver Ferns side for the 2019 Netball World Cup in Liverpool. Photo: © Photosport Ltd 2018 www.photosport.nz
The 12-woman squad will be captained by midcourter Laura Langman and also features veteran shooter Maria Folau who now plays for the Adelaide Thunderbirds in Australia.
Rore is the most capped New Zealand netball international of all time, competing in the 2011 and 2015 Netball World Cups.
Karaka last played for the Silver Ferns in January 2018 but has been a standout on defence this season as captain of the Northern Mystics.
Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua has named her team of 12 players for the Netball World Cup, which features the return of Katrina Rore, Phoenix Karaka, Shannon Saunders and Bailey Mes.
— Silver Ferns (@SilverFernsNZ) May 23, 2019
Read the full team release here: https://t.co/Lp17EKX6Oz pic.twitter.com/3ugOzpX9Jv
Karaka's Mystics team-mate Bailey Mes has also been selected for a strong second half showing in the New Zealand Netball Premiership.
Saunders, who made her debut in 2013 and last played for the Silver Ferns in 2018, has been a hard working centre for the Southern Steel and also has long-standing links with dynamic midcourter Gina Crampton.
"We have five athletes who have been on the outer, faced their so called demons and yet have been open to take on feedback, better their skillset and continued to push themselves" Taurua said.
"I look for players who can do the job in the first instance, connections and playing combinations, and then personal qualities. The players who have been recalled to wear the Silver Fern again demonstrates to me passion for our game, fight, fortitude, tenacity and work ethic. The Silver Ferns needs to be a team that can emulate those same qualities."
The side includes five Netball World Cup debutantes in Karin Burger, Gina Crampton, Ameliaranne Ekenasio, Te Paea Selby-Rickit and Jane Watson.
Before the tournament, held in Liverpool from 12-21 July, the Silver Ferns play a series against the Fiji Pearls, New Zealand Invitational Men's team and an All Stars side in Auckland at the end of June.
Silver Ferns Team:
- Karin Burger (Pulse)
- Gina Crampton (Steel)
- Ameliaranne Ekenasio (Pulse)
- Maria Folau (Thunderbirds)
- Phoenix Karaka (Mystics)
- Casey Kopua (Magic)
- Laura Langman (captain, Lightning)
- Bailey Mes (Mystics)
- Katrina Rore (Pulse)
- Shannon Saunders (Steel)
- Te Paea Selby-Rickit (Steel)
- Jane Watson (Tactix)
