Netball: Rumball determined to change Aitken's mind

Lesley Rumball is determined to play in next year's Commonwealth Games despite indications Silver Ferns coach Ruth Aitken wants her to retire, rather than having to drop netball's most-capped international.

Rumball was surprised to hear the news yesterday, confirming she has had meetings with Aitken about her future but was adamant the word "retirement" had not been discussed.

"I thought I was in the same situation as everyone else," she said.

Rumball captained the Silver Ferns last year but has since been overtaken by Waikato teenager Laura Langman.

It is understood Aitken would prefer Rumball to depart the scene gracefully, even going as far as approaching Sting coach Robyn Broughton to ease the way, but Rumball has been training harder than ever to stay in contention.

She will turn out for Southland at the national championships, which begin with a three-day tournament in Napier tomorrow.

Trial teams will be named after the championships finish in Dunedin on October 1, and the squad for the Commonwealth Games will be confirmed a couple of weeks later.

Rumball said rumours of her retirement had been doing the rounds "for the last four years" but she was still determined to make it to Melbourne.

"I'd love to but you are always in the hands of the selectors and if you aren't in their plans then there's nothing you can do about it.

"It's pretty obvious from the last series against Australia that I wasn't in their plans for the starting lineup."

Aitken did not return messages left yesterday.

Rumball is in negotiations with the Invercargill-based Sting about next season.

She confirmed that whatever happened with Commonwealth Games selection she would play in the National Bank Cup -- and that Sting was her preference despite being based in Auckland.

Rumball had considered talking with Auckland-based teams the Diamonds or Force.

"It definitely has crossed my mind in terms of the travel thing and being in one place. I love playing down south so that's why I'm still playing. I love the people and the whole organisation, I'm not looking anywhere else at the moment."

Meanwhile, teenage Taranaki shoot Jessica Tuki has turned down an approach from Sting.

Tuki, 17, played goal attack and goal shoot for the New Zealand under-21 team during its successful campaign at the world youth championships this year.

She will attend Otago University next year and is understood to have signed with the Rebels.

- NZPA