After a long wait, the New Zealand Secondary Schools (NZSS) team head to Australia on June 29 for their first taste of international netball in three years.
After spending two days in Auckland preparing, the 14-strong NZSS team will be based at the Australian Institute of Sport, in Canberra, until July 3 where they will play four matches against the U19 Australian Squad.
Consisting of a largely new group of players who are taking their first steps on Netball New Zealand’s Player Pathway, the NZSS team has had limited opportunities over the last three seasons due to the global pandemic.
"We are thrilled that this is finally happening,’’ new NZSS head coach Pelesa Semu said. ``This campaign provides the opportunity of some valuable offshore competition which will only help with their development and progress.
"This has been a long time coming and I can’t underestimate how valuable it will be for this group personally while also keeping the bigger picture in mind.’’
With the next World Youth Cup being held in 2025, providing exposure for the NZSS athletes in the lead-up is as an important component. Many of New Zealand’s elite players have begun their journey with the NZSS team.
"We recognise the importance of this team and the role it plays, and I’m very much looking forward to working with them and seeing how our best crop of secondary school talent performs in Australia,’’ Semu said.
Nothing has been left to chance in the selection of the team which started last year. Through the Netball New Zealand Emerging Talent Panel observations at the various regional and National tournaments and zone feed forwards. 90 players were selected to attend the 3 Regional National Development Camps in January, and the final trials in April.
The team contains four players who performed in the Synergy Hair Netball League this season including Lili Tokaduadua (Robinhood Comets), Priscilla Rasmussen (Northern Marvels), Liza Ball (Waikato Bay of Plenty) and Phoenix Schwalger (Central Manawa).
Semu, who will be assisted by Jo Morrison, said it was an exciting time for the players but also the coaches who would be able to work closely with the cream of the country’s young talent after such a disruptive period.
Le’Oxeayn Maiu’u (Avondale College, Northern) will captain the team, with Emilie Nicholson (Columba College, South) as the vice captain.
New Zealand Secondary Schools team 2023:
Northern
Lili Tokaduadua - Howick College
Le’Oxeayn Maiu’u - Avondale College
Priscilla Rasmussen - Avondale College
Summer Temu - Mt Albert Grammar
WBOP
Liza Ball - Hamilton Girls’ High School
Shaquaylah Mahakitau-Monschau - St Peter’s School, Cambridge
Central
Zara Feaunati - Scots College
Zoe Elliott - Woodford House
Phoenix Schwalger - St Mary’s College, Wellington
Sarah Guiney - Samuel Marsden Collegiate
Sovaia Sabutu - Wairarapa College
Mainland
Sienna Stowers-Smith - St Andrew’s College
South
Ella Southby - St Hilda’s Collegiate School
Emilie Nicholson - Columba College
Management
Head Coach – Pelesa Semu
Assistant Coach – Jo Morrison
Team Manager – Daniel Short
Team Physiotherapist – Kylie Cox
Team Analyst – Eliza-Jane Rieger