Netball: Shooter's plan to play here 'an insult'

It will be an insult to Australian netball if former international Cynna Kydd plays in next year's National Bank Cup, Melbourne Phoenix coach Julie Hoornweg says.

Australian shooter Kydd (nee Neele) has quit the Phoenix after just one season and is understood to be in discussions with the Canterbury Flames, not the Auckland Diamonds as has been reported.

However, Hoornweg told the Melbourne Age that if Kydd pursued her career in New Zealand "it's a slap in the face for Australian netball. She's potentially one of our international players and we've invested a lot, in terms of the AIS and Australian 21-and-under teams."

Kydd, who represented Australia at the 2003 world championship, was captain of the Kestrels when she switched allegiances to Phoenix three weeks before the start of the 2006 Commonwealth Bank Trophy season.

The Age reported Kydd, 25, told Hoornweg she was leaving to travel with her husband and possibly play overseas.

"When Cynna approached us, she made a long-term commitment to Phoenix. After providing feedback to the club that she felt her netball had improved, it was puzzling to learn her priorities had changed."

Kydd has struggled with injury during the past 18 months and the Age reports she struggled to click with teammate Sharelle McMahon.

"I thought she [Kydd] was starting to play some good netball towards the end of the season; she was training well and had said she was enjoying her netball," Hoornweg said.

Former Australian squad member Demelza Fellowes has been linked to the Otago Rebels.