Mixed Invitational Team Set To Make History

The NZ Men’s and Mixed Netball Association is excited to announce a Mixed Invitational team to take on the Silver Ferns, NZA and the New Zealand Men’s team in the Cadbury Netball Series.

In a world first, the Mixed team games will be broadcast live on Sky Sport during the 13-16 July series at Pulman Arena in Auckland.

Former Silver Fern Marg Foster has been named by the NZ Men’s and Mixed Netball Association to coach the side and said she was excited to be a part of the series, playing their role in the Ferns final preparation for next month’s Commonwealth Games.

“Our aim is to ensure we present the toughest competition and I believe we can bring a style of netball which will help provide the best preparation for the Silver Ferns heading to Birmingham,” she said.

“I take my hat off to Netball New Zealand and NZ Men’s and Mixed Netball Association’s vision to showcase men and women in a mixed format – it’s a first to see this format live on television and it is only good for the sport.

“But make no mistake, our athletes are competitive and when we step out on court we will be out there to win.”

Foster said specialist coaches would take some court sessions as part of their build-up preparation while Tania Anderson would act as assistant coach.

“The Silver Ferns could meet a number of different styles at the Commonwealth Games, and I think our Mixed team can help simulate what they will face there – the men offering that real aerial game like Jamaica or the hard man-on-man defence of Australia,” she said.

“We want to put the Ferns under that sort of pressure and we’re aware that we want to push them as hard as possible as they prepare for this pinnacle event.”

The Mixed team take on the NZ Men on 13 July, NZ A the following day and the Silver Ferns on 15 July. The Cadbury Netball Series final will be played on 16 July at Pulman Arena.

Tickets for the Cadbury Netball Series are available now through www.ticketek.co.nz

Mixed Invitational team:

Kelsey Browne
Leana de Bruin
Amosa Faitaua-Nanai
Quintin Gerber
Maddy Gordon
Georgia Heffernan
Erena Mikaere
Grace Namana
Kyle Owen
Deepak Patu
Laura Scherian
Stefan Swartz
Joseph Tukaki

Reserves: Thompson Matuku, Ephraim Ormsby, Kimiora Poi, Michaela Sokolich-Beatson, Donna Wilkins.

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