Netball: Youngsters have chance to press for Silver Ferns

Althea Byfield (left) has had approval to play for the Mystics. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Despite three of the five Kiwi franchises being set to field two ineligible players in next year's transtasman league, Netball New Zealand are confident young up-and-coming players are being given opportunities.

The national body yesterday confirmed they have approved applications from each of the country's five franchises to sign a foreign player.

Jamaican defender Althea Byfield (Mystics), former Australian internationals Peta Scholz (Magic), Jane Altschwager (Pulse) and Megan Dehn (Steel) and Queensland defender Peta Stephens (Tactix) will all ply their trade in New Zealand next season.

New Zealand-born Samoan internationals Cathrine Latu and Frances Solia, who are regarded as imports in the transtasman league, have also re-signed with the Mystics and Magic respectively under the residency rule.

Netball NZ are still considering a second application from the Central Pulse - believed to be for English defender Ama Agbeze.

Should the Pulse be successful, and all indications are it is simply a box-ticking exercise, there will be a total of eight ineligible players turning out for New Zealand franchises next season - the same number as last year.

It was hoped that as the competition continued, New Zealand's depth would improve and negate the need for so many teams to use overseas-based players to plug gaps in their squads.

But Netball New Zealand chief executive Raelene Castle believes looking at the overall picture, more opportunities have been given to young players next season than was the case this year.

A number of veteran local players, who had no desire to play for the national team, returned to the game this season and took up positions in squads at the expense of young talent.

"Whilst unavailable, players like Adine Wilson, Donna Wilkins and Megan Hutton were good experienced players that added value to the competition, they weren't good-value players who were growing to be Silver Ferns," said Castle.

"So with those types of players not there, we've actually got four or five more young up-and-coming players than what we had last season, so overall we will ultimately have more players to choose from in the Silver Ferns, and that's a good scenario for us."

Unlike the past two seasons, when the national body had turned down applications from franchises only for their decision to be appealed, this year the process has gone smoothly.

Castle said it wasn't a case of the eligibility committee being more lenient this season, but rather a result of more open communication.

She said instead of sitting and waiting for the preliminary squads to be announced before considering any applications, Netball NZ engaged with the franchises to understand any difficulties they were having.

But Steel chief executive Julie Paterson believed the process could be easier. She said that although they contracted Dehn in August, it was only now that the veteran shooter could finalise her planning for next season.

"That's the difficulty with New Zealand teams having to wait until October with their applications.

"You contract a player, and then they're up in the air until the confirmation comes through and in the meantime they could be picked up by an Australian team. And if they get declined they're without a job," said Paterson.

The Steel are still searching for a fourth shooter and are hoping to finalise the details later this week.

The confirmation of Byfield in the Northern Mystics line-up leaves no room for Auckland stalwart Rachel Rasmussen. Coach Te Aroha Keenan has instead opted for youth, signing Auckland schoolgirl Sulu Tone-Fitzpatrick, who was involved in the Mystics programme this season as a development player.