Head coach Briony Akle has selected a powerful squad for the NSW Swifts’ first pre-season hit-out of the year, against the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic in New Zealand.
With Silver Ferns international Kayla Johnson (nee Cullen) ruled out of the trip across the Tasman due to illness, the 2019 Suncorp Super Netball Premiers will bring seven of their rostered 10 players to Te Awamutu, as well as a number of training partners and QBE Swifts Academy players.
Maddy Proud and Lauren Moore will travel with the squad but won’t play as they continue rehab from injuries sustained last season.
The Swifts and Magic have a long history and rivalry from the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship, which was in operation from 2008 to 2016, most notably the 2008 Grand Final – which the Swifts won to claim their fifth Premiership.
NSW Swifts Executive General Manager Nikki Horton said the team was excited about heading over to NZ.
“We haven’t seen much of each other since the ANZ Championship was disbanded a number of years ago, but there remains a great respect between our two clubs,” Horton said.
“Our players are really looking forward to going up against some of the best players in New Zealand’s ANZ Premiership and I know the Magic feel likewise.
“It is also a wonderful opportunity for our players to meet some of the NZ netball community and ensure that the bonds between our two netball nations remains strong.
“The game will be a good barometer for our high performance team who have been doing brilliant work with our players since they arrived back for pre-season training.”
The sides go head-to-head at 3pm on Wednesday (AEDT) at the Te Awamutu Event Centre in the Waikato region of New Zealand. The game will be live streamed via the Sky Sport NZ YouTube channel - (SET REMINDER HERE).
The Swifts begin their 2020 Suncorp Super Netball title defence against the Sunshine Coast Lightning at the newly redeveloped Ken Rosewall Arena at Sydney Olympic Park on Sunday 3 May.
SWIFTS SQUAD FOR MAGIC
Maddy Turner, Paige Hadley, Helen Housby, Nat Haythornthwaite, Sarah Klau, Sophie Craig* (nee Halpin), Oliva Coleman*, Tayla Fraser*, Samantha Wallace, Sophie Garbin.
Not playing due to injury/illness: Maddy Proud, Lauren Moore, Kayla Johnson.
*denotes Training Partner/QBE Swifts Academy player
