Netball: Mene bows out for good

Inspirational captain Bernice Mene will not be around to help the Southern Sting win a record fifth successive national league netball title next season.

The former Silver Ferns captain, who drew the curtain on a 78-test international career in January, this week decided to retire from playing altogether.

She resisted the urge for one last fling with the Sting. A degenerative knee injury, the desire to do other things and a feeling of satisfaction with what she had achieved during her 10 years at the top all contributed to her decision.

Mene, just returned from a six-week holiday in South America and the United States, said being pain-free had convinced her the time was right to hang up her knee brace and close that chapter of her life.