Three NSWIS players nominated for Australian Netball World Youth Cup squad

National selectors have included three NSWIS players in the 14 athletes nominated from the 2016/2017 Australian Netball World Youth Cup squad, who will tour Fiji in January 2017.

The team was named by Australian World Youth Cup Coach Tania Obst, alongside national selector Jill McIntosh and Netball Australia’s National Pathway Manager Stacey West, following a selection camp at Netball Australia’s Centre of Excellence in Canberra, where all 21 athletes in the extended 21/U squad were in attendance.

NSWIS’s Toni Anderson, Prue Ellis and NSW Swift player Claire O’Brien were all selected although Anderson must pass gain a medical clearance to take up her place in the squad.

For Obst, the selection camp in Canberra provided an opportunity for national selectors to work with the players, but just as significantly, provided an opportunity for the players to build connection among themselves.

“Last week we threw different challenges at them and the whole squad responded really well,” said Obst.

“Their ability to connect with each other on and off the court was really pleasing and will service us well heading into Fiji, before Botswana in July.”

The team of 14, alongside national coaches and selectors will travel to Fiji on January 11 for a friendly tournament spanning four days, where they will take part in games against Fiji, New Zealand and Samoa.

“Fiji will offer more international match play experience as well as an opportunity for the girls to build on the on-court connections put into place on camp.”

The final 2017 Australian Netball World Youth Cup squad will be named in April, taking into account performances from Fiji, as well as performances in the inaugural Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) and the Australian Netball League. Final team selection will take place in May to determine the players who will travel to Gaborone, Botswana in July for the 2017 Netball World Youth Cup.

Coaches have seen new layers of intricacy added to the National 21/U players moving into the inaugural SSN in February next year, with a large majority of the team contracted to SSN teams or listed as training partners.

“I have seen a growth in maturity in the girls in managing those complexities,” said Obst.

“The ability to be training with the best netballers in the world is only going to enhance our national programs and national pathway in the future.”

Netball Australia thanks the Australian Commonwealth Games Association – through its NextGEN AUSComGames squad program – for its support of the 2016-17 Australian Netball World Youth Cup Squad.

2017 Australian Fiji Tour Team
(name, state of origin)

** Athletes under the age of 21 years as of 31 December 2016

*Subject to medical clearance

2017 Fiji Tour Fixture (Australian Games Only)