Netball: Leota, Henry get Ferns camp invites

Pulse wing defence Joline Henry will be one of the busiest players on the hardwood on Sunday night. Photo / Getty Images.

Former Silver Ferns Liana Leota and Joline Henry are among the invited trialists at Netball New Zealand's selection camp next month.

The national selectors today confirmed the 24 players who have been invited to trial for positions in the Silver Ferns and national accelerant squads. Along with the current members of the two squads, seven further players have been invited to trial - Leota, Henry (Pulse), Jane Watson (Tactix), Rachel Rasmussen, Courtney Tairi, Phillipa Finch (Steel), and former Pulse midcourter Katarina Cooper, who sat out the 2013 ANZ Championship season as she recovered from a knee injury.

Both Leota and Henry will be eyeing a return to the Silver Ferns test side for September's Constellation Cup series against Australia. There will be at least two spots up for grabs in the test 12, with incumbents Anna Harrison (pregnant) and Bailey Mes (knee injury) to miss the international season.

The trials will be held over four days in Auckland early next month, culminating in the naming of the Silver Ferns and national accelerant squads on August 9.

Silver Ferns coach Waimarama Taumaunu says the competition for positions will be as strong as ever.

"Trials are the final opportunity for players to impress the National Selectors and with 2014 Commonwealth Games just around the corner we want to give players every opportunity to push for selection," she said.

The national accelerant squad was established to give players behind the Silver Ferns squad additional opportunities. The aim is to fast-track their development to Silver Ferns level within three years. The group can include up to eight players at any one time.

Members of the NZU21 team heading to Glasgow next month for the world youth championships have not been named in the invited trialists, but they will still be viewed by national selectors as they will be in camp and participate in matches at the trials.

Under-21 star Kayla Cullen, who debuted for the Silver Ferns in 2011, is expected to play some role in the international programme when she returns from Glasgow.-

Invited trialists:
Current Silver Ferns squad members: Jodi Brown, Leana de Bruin, Katrina Grant, Casey Kopua, Laura Langman, Cathrine Latu, Camilla Lees, Julianna Naoupu *, Grace Rasmussen, Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit, Anna Thompson, Maria Tutaia, Irene van Dyk.

Current national accelerant squad: Shannon Francois, Ellen Halpenny, Jessica Moulds*, Elias Shadrock.

Invited players: Liana Leota, Joline Henry, Rachel Rasmussen, Jane Watson, Courtney Tairi, Phillipa Finch, Katarina Cooper.
* subject to medical clearance