WA Trio Selected for Tour of Fiji

Western Australian netballers Jess Anstiss, Annika Lee-Jones and Sophie Garbin have been named in the Australian 21U Team for the Tour of Fiji in January next year.

The trio were selected as part of a 14-strong national squad and were selected from the existing 2016/17 Australian Netball World Youth Cup squad, following a camp at Netball Australia’s Centre of Excellence in Canberra, run last week.

National 21/U coach Tania Obst said the selection camp in Canberra had provided an opportunity for national selectors to work with the players, but just as significantly, provided an opportunity for the players to build connection among themselves.

“Last week we threw different challenges at them and the whole squad responded really well.”

“Their ability to connect with each other on and off the court was really pleasing and will service us well heading into Fiji, before Botswana in July,” Obst said.

The team of 14, alongside national coaches and selectors will travel to Fiji on the 11th January for a friendly tournament spanning four days, where they will take part in games against Fiji, New Zealand and Samoa.

“Fiji will offer more international match play experience as well as an opportunity for the girls to build on the on-court connections put into place on camp.”

The shortlisted Australian World Youth Cup squad will be named in April, taking into account performances from Fiji, as well as performances in the inaugural Suncorp Super Netball and the Australian Netball League.

Anstiss and Lee-Jones have both been signed by West Coast Fever for the inaugural season of Suncorp Super Netball in 2017.

The final team selection will take place in May to determine the players who will travel to Gaborone, Botswana in July for the 2017 Netball World Youth Cup.