12 Oct 2011

Aitken ends tenure as Silver Ferns coach

1:45 pm on 12 October 2011

Silver Ferns netball coach Ruth Aitken has ended her tenure early and been replaced by former captain Waimarama Taumanu.

Aitken was due to finish after an upcoming three-Test series against Australia, but has stepped down prematurely for family reasons.

Her last Test as coach was a win over England in Invercargill last week.

Taumanu, who has been Aitken's assistant for the past three years, has a four-year contract taking her through to the 2015 world championships in Australia.

Her first Test will be against Australia in a fortnight, in Perth.