Netball: A Timeline Of Dame Noeline Taurua's Shock Sidelining

Sunday, 5 October 2025, 7:33 pm
Press Release: RNZ

Bridget Tunnicliffe, Sport Journalist

Another chapter has been written in the standoff between Dame Noeline Taurua and Netball New Zealand (NNZ), with the national body announcing the Silver Ferns coach will be sidelined for the rest of the year.

Taurua was sensationally stood down 11 days out from the Taini Jamison series against South Africa last month and her future as coach of the national side looks bleak.

A gruelling two-day meeting between NNZ and Taurua earlier this week failed to break the deadlock.

In a statement issued on Saturday afternoon, NNZ said that, despite genuine effort from the national body and Taurua, a resolution was not reached.

"NNZ has pursued every pathway with Dame Noeline to bring her back into the Silver Ferns environment at this time. NNZ is disappointed that this has not been possible."

NNZ declined to comment on the reasons for Taurua's suspension, citing legal and privacy constraints.

Yvette McCausland-Durie, who oversaw last month's series victory over South Africa, will remain as interim coach for the Constellation Cup against Australia and the northern tour, supported by Liana Leota as assistant coach.

NNZ chief executive Jennie Wyllie said it had to lock in a coach, with the series against Australia starting 17 October.

"We don't want this process to drag on, but we do have the players about to assemble for camp for the Constellation Cup and, alongside that, we've been working through these issues at the same time," Wyllie said.

A timeline of events:

• Late January 2025
• February
• June
• July
• 4 September
• 5 September
• 10 September
• 11 September
• 21 September
• 28 September
• 30 September
• 4 October

The Constellation Cup series against Australia starts on 17 October in Melbourne.

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