Netball: Pregnant pause for thought

Kathryn Harby-Williams has retired from netball and is looking forward to the next stage of her life. Picture / Mark McKeown

Former Australian captain Kathryn Harby-Williams has withdrawn from the Diamonds netball side, announcing she is pregnant.

Harby-Williams retired from international netball in 2003 and the following year moved to Auckland, where she played two seasons with the Diamonds.

The 36-year-old announced at the end of last season that she was retiring, but changed her mind and was added to the Diamonds final team for this year's National Bank Cup season.

However, now three months pregnant, Harby-Williams has pulled out of the Auckland side and says she is looking forward to the next stage of her life.

"We are very excited," she said of her and husband Cory, who are planning to remain in Auckland for the time being.

Diamonds coach Sue Hawkins said Harby-Williams had always been open about her intentions to start a family.

"That was always the reason she was not going to play, if she fell pregnant. When she told me, it was fantastic news, but it is bad luck for us."

While Harby-Williams' departure leaves a gap, the franchise was successful in recruiting Silver Fern Anna Scarlett at the end of last season. She joins her former Otago Rebels teammate Stephanie Bond and Rachel Rasmussen in defence.

Hawkins says she is keen to find a replacement for Harby-Williams and has started to inquire in New Zealand and Australia.

"At this stage we haven't replaced her. I am working on something but at this stage nothing is confirmed."

The National Bank Cup starts on April 29.