Young basketballers Australia-bound

from left. Tarawhati Dekker(8); Pukemoremore Dekker (8); Grace McCarthy (13); Kararaina Pene (8); Jahzell ROBERTS (6); Ani-Makere Taare (9); Dekoda Roberts (11); Ben Comber (7); Aimee Whata (7); Shaun Gifkins (12); Dubai Whata (15) Absent: Te Maire van der Leden

Twelve young Rotorua basketballers are this week winging their way to Australia after being selected for the Pacific Koru Tour.

The athletes are part of a contingent of 136 flying to Albury-Wodonga, including players, referees, coaches and managers.

They will train for the first four days before the Australian Country Cup Champs start on Monday, running through until next Saturday.

It is the largest group of athletes selected from Rotorua since the tour started in 1987 - across the age groups of under-14s, under-16s and under-18s from a number of local schools.

Since the holidays started the group have been training three times a week, from 8am to 11.30am, incorporating fitness and on-court training.

For a number of the group, it will be their first experience in the international arena.

The players are:

Ani-Makere Taare (TKKM Ruamata); sisters Jahzell & Dekoda Roberts (Rotorua Int); Kararaina Pene (Rotorua Girls); Ben Comber (John Paul); Grace McCarthy (Rotorua Girls); Aimee Whata (Rotorua Int.); Pukemoremore Dekker (TKKM o Kokiri); Shaun Gifkins (Rotorua Int); Tarawhati Dekker (TKKM o Kokiri); Dubai Whata (Rotorua Girls); Te Maire van der Leden (TKKM o Te Koutu).