NZU21 Squad to tour Australia named
The Emerging Talent Selectors today named the NZU21 squad to tour to Australia in August.
The talented side includes players across a range of ages and experience, from current Silver Fern, Paula Griffin & her Northern Mystics team mate and NZA squad player Grace Rasmussen (who was also a member of the winning 2005 World Youth Cup NZU21 side) through to 16 year old Kayla Cullen, NZSS representative and Player of the Tournament at the recent National Under 17 Tournament. The squad also includes seven current NZU21 squad players.
The NZU21 squad will play the Australian & England U21 squads in Brisbane from 4-10 August. The squad will play nine games scheduled over five days; three games each against England and Australian U21 selections and two against a Queensland Invitation selection.
The NZU21 squad was selected by the National Emerging Talent Selection Panel who have observed players across a number of events and activities in 2008 including; NZU21 squad camp & Regional sessions, NZ Talent Development sessions, NZ Secondary Schools trials and event, Lois Muir Challenge, ANZ Championship and the NZ Age Group Championships that was held last week in Hamilton.
NZU21 coach Yvette McCausland-Durie says she has selected a very talented 15 strong squad.
“By taking a larger group on this tour it provides a lot of competition for places in the final World Youth Cup Squad to be announced at the end of NZ Championships and the challenge is there for all selected players to put their hands up for future selection.”
“We have a lot of hard work to put in over the next year in preparation for the 2009 World Youth Cup so it’s important to give these athletes as much international experience as they can get. Both Australia and England have strong sides so this is a great opportunity for those selected in this squad to take another step up,” she said.
NZU21 Squad – Australian Tour
(in alphabetical order)
Te Amo Amaru-Tibble – Wellington U21 Team and Lois Muir Challenge Team
Hannah Broederlow – NZU21 Squad 2006-08, Otago Lois Muir Challenge Team
Alanah Cassidy- NZU21 Squad 2007-08, NZSS Team 2007, Waikato U21 Team,
Hayley Croft – NZU21 Squad 2006-08, Pulse
Kayla Cullen – NZSS Team 2007-08, Auckland Waitakere U17 Team
Sam Durie - Aranga – NZSS Team 2007, Otago Lois Muir Challenge Team & U21 Team
Paula Griffin – Silver Ferns 2007, Mystics, NZSS Team 2006, NZU21 2006
Ellen Halpenny – NZU21 Squad 2007-08, Tactix, NZSS Team 2007-08, Canterbury U21 Charlotte Kight – NZU21 Squad 2006-08, Tactix, Canterbury U21 Team
Camilla Lees – NZU21 Squad 2006-08, NZSS Team 2006, Otago Lois Muir Challenge Team
Jess Moulds – Otago Lois Muir Challenge & U21 Team
Hannah Poff – NZSS Team 2008, Christchurch U21 Team
Jaimee Power – NZU21 Squad 2006-08, NZSS Team 2007, Otago U21 (Player of the Tournament 2008) & Lois Muir Challenge Team
Grace Rasmussen – NZA Squad, Mystics, NZU21 2005 – 07
Sulu Tone – NZSS Team 2008, Auckland Waitakere U17 Team
Reserves:
Susan Tagicakibau – NZU21 Squad 2007-08, Pulse
Te Paea Selby-Rickit – NZU21 Squad 2007- 08, NZSS Team 2008
Emily Close – Otago U21 & Lois Muir Challenge Team
Claire Kersten - Otago U21 Team & Lois Muir Challenge Team
Jodi Beaumont – NZSS Team 2007-08, Waikato U21 & Lois Muir Challenge Team