NZ Netball

New faces and returnees named for Silver Ferns

Coach Dame Noeline Taurua has named a team of 14 for the Silver Ferns' first overseas trip in two years as their Commonwealth Games campaign begins.

Defenders Phoenix Karaka and Kayla Johnson, who are both returning to the game after becoming mums for the first time, are set to wear the black dress again while Mystics ANZ Premiership winning shooter Filda Vui and Stars versatile midcourter Mila Reuelu-Buchanan have been elevated to the Silver Ferns for the first time.

Second Sotutu earns national honours in 10 days as Teuila Sotutu named in Netball World Youth Cup team

 Teuila Sotutu was, on Wednesday, named in the New Zealand under-21 squad ahead of next year’s Netball World Youth Cup.

 That announcement came just 10 days after her brother Hoskins Sotutu was named as an All Black for the first time.

 Sporting success is nothing new to the Sotutu family with Teuila and Hoskins’ father Waisake Sotutu being a former Blues and Fiji wing.Sporting success is nothing new to the Sotutu family with Teuila and Hoskins’ father Waisake Sotutu being a former Blues and Fiji wing.

Taurua says Ferns still not number one

New Zealand lead the best-of-four Constellation Cup against the Diamonds 2-1, with Sunday's clash in Perth to decide the winner.

The Silver Ferns beat Australia by a goal at the World Cup in July, and have twice beaten the Diamonds by the same margin during the current four-match series.

But Taurua just has to take one look at her country's poor Constellation Cup history to know her team has some way to go before it can be considered the best in the world.

New Zealand have won the series just once in nine attempts since its inception in 2010.