Silver Ferns Announce Squad for Constellation Cup Series

The Silver Ferns have named their squad for the upcoming Constellation Cup series, featuring a single change from the team that competed in last month’s Taini Jamison series against South Africa. Amelia Walmsley joins the squad after a notable performance with the New Zealand U21 team at the Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar, where they secured a second-place finish. She takes the spot of Filda Vui, who made her debut with the Silver Ferns last month.

Three players—Kate Burley, Tayla Earle, and Saviour Tui—were not selected for this series but may receive opportunities when the team travels to the United Kingdom next month to face Scotland and England.

In a significant development, Dame Noeline Taurua, the Silver Ferns coach, will be absent for the remainder of the 2025 season. This follows unsuccessful mediation attempts last week. Yvette McCausland-Durie, who stepped in as interim coach during the Taini Jamison series, will continue in that capacity for the remainder of the year.

McCausland-Durie on Team Dynamics

McCausland-Durie expressed enthusiasm about the blend of seasoned players and emerging talents in the squad. “The Constellation Cup is always a fiercely contested series, and we’ve selected a squad capable of rising to the challenge. We believe this group can push the Diamonds hard across all four Tests,” she stated.

She highlighted Walmsley’s inclusion as a testament to the team’s confidence in her growth. “Bringing Amelia into the group is a real statement about our confidence in her development. Her performances in Gibraltar showed she can handle pressure on the global stage, and we look forward to seeing her back in the Silver Ferns dress.”

The Silver Ferns captured the Constellation Cup for only the third time last year, triumphing over the world champions with a 3-1 series victory. The upcoming series will continue to build momentum, especially following the use of rotating captains during the recent South Africa series.

An announcement regarding the Silver Ferns’ captain and vice-captain is expected to be made by the end of the training camp. The team will convene for training from October 7 to 11, 2025, before heading to Australia for the series opener on October 17, 2025.

Constellation Cup Schedule

The Silver Ferns’ fixtures for the Constellation Cup are set as follows:

– **October 17, 2025**: John Cain Arena, Melbourne
– **October 22, 2025**: Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney
– **October 26, 2025**: Globox Arena, Hamilton
– **October 29, 2025**: Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch

This series promises to deliver intense competition as the Silver Ferns look to defend their title and continue their success on the international stage.