A 14-member squad for the Silver Ferns has been announced ahead of their series against Australia, where New Zealand aims to set aside coaching controversies and defend the Constellation Cup. The latest selection sees one change from the squad that competed in last month’s Taini Jamison series against South Africa. Amelia Walmsley has been included after her impressive run with the New Zealand U21 team at the Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar, where the team finished in second place, taking the spot of Filda Vui, who made her debut last month.
While Kate Burley, Tayla Earle, and Saviour Tui were not selected for the current series, there could be opportunities for them when the Silver Ferns travel to the UK next month for matches against Scotland and England. Recently, Netball New Zealand revealed that coach Dame Noeline Taurua will be absent for the entirety of the 2025 season due to unsuccessful mediation attempts. Yvette McCausland-Durie, who stepped in as interim coach during the Taini Jamison series, will continue her role for the remainder of the year.
McCausland-Durie expressed enthusiasm about the blend of experienced players and emerging talent within the squad. She stated, “The Constellation Cup is always a fiercely contested series, and we’ve selected a squad capable of rising to the challenge. We believe this group can push the Diamonds hard across all four Tests.” Highlighting Walmsley’s performance in Gibraltar, she noted it was a testament to confidence in the player’s development.
Last year, the Silver Ferns successfully secured the Constellation Cup for only the third time, triumphing over the world champions with a 3-1 series win. The team employed rotating captains during the South Africa series, with further announcements regarding the captain and vice-captain expected by the end of their training camp.
The Silver Ferns will convene for a training camp from October 7-11, leading up to the series opener in Melbourne on October 17. With both excitement and optimism surrounding the upcoming matches, fans are eager to see how the ferns will perform in their title defense.
The full Silver Ferns squad for the Constellation Cup includes:
Shooters: Grace Nweke, Amelia Walmsley, Georgia Heffernan, Martina Salmon.
Midcourters: Elisapeta Toeava, Maddy Gordon, Kate Heffernan, Kimiora Poi, Mila Reulu-Buchanan.
Defenders: Kelly Jackson, Parris Mason, Carys Stythe, Karin Burger, Catherine Hall.
The Constellation Cup matches are scheduled as follows:
– October 17 at John Cain Arena, Melbourne,
– October 22 at Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney,
– October 26 at Globox Arena, Hamilton,
– October 29 at Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch.
This series presents a significant opportunity for the Silver Ferns to build momentum and strengthen team dynamics as they face strong competition, providing an exciting moment for fans and a hopeful outlook for the sport in New Zealand.