23 Sep 2016

Tutaia to captain Fast5 Ferns

3:07 pm on 23 September 2016

Shooter Maria Tutaia will captain the New Zealand Fast5 netball team at next month's tournament in Melbourne.

New Zealand's Maria Tutaia takes a shot in the Fast5 Netball World Series against Australia at Vector Arena, Auckland, Friday 8th November 2013. Photo: Anthony Au-Yeung / photosport.co.nz

New Zealand's Maria Tutaia takes a shot in the Fast5 Netball World Series against Australia Photo: Photosport

Tutaia has just returned to the Silver Ferns lineup after injury.

Tutaia will captain the 10-strong team, which includes many of New Zealand's brightest young stars, including recent international debutants Maia Wilson, Te Paea Selby-Rickit and Storm Purvis.

NZ Under-21 team and Silver Ferns Development squad coach, Kiri Wills will take the reins of this line-up saying fans will be excited by the brand of Netball they'll bring.

"Fast5 is an exciting brand of Netball, one that encourages flair and speed, and that's exactly how we'll be aiming to play," Wills said.

"We are bringing an exciting team to Melbourne; one that I'm sure the fans will love watching and will bring plenty of enthusiasm and fun to the court.

"For some of these players, they're at the start of their international careers and what better way to gain a taste of playing at this level than at the Fast5 World Netball Series."

The FAST5 Ferns have been victorious on five of the six occasions the event has been held (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014), with England the only other team to taste victory in 2011. The event was not held in 2015 due to the Netball World Cup.

The Fast5 Netball World Series will, for the first time, be played in Melbourne from October 29-30, 2016.

FAST5 Ferns team

Gina Crampton

Kayla Cullen

Ameliaranne Ekenasio

Kelly Jury

Phoenix Karaka

Storm Purvis

Te Paea Selby-Rickit

Sam Sinclair

Maria Tutaia - captain

Maia Wilson

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