Waikato's Laura Langman will captain the national Under-21 netball side to tour Jamaica and the United States next month.
The squad, named today, includes Auckland sisters Grace and Rachel Rasmussen.
Langman is joined in the team by another Silver Ferns squad member, Casey Williams, also from Waikato, and Southland's WendyTelfer has been recalled after she missed the England and Australia Under-21 series last year because of injury.
The tour to Jamaica and the US will help the team prepare for the World Youth Cup in Fort Lauderdale, US, in July.
They will play three matches against the Jamaican Under-21 side before travelling to Fort Lauderdale where they will play US Invitation teams and their counterparts from Australia and England.
"This tour will ensure the players gain exposure to different playing styles and the pressures of touring ahead of the World Youth Cup," team coach Te Aroha Keenan said.
"It also provides the management with a valuable opportunity to assess the team's progress against other top contenders and experience the World Youth Cup environment prior to naming the final team (announced by March 31)," she said.
Team:
Liana Barrett (Chase, Western), Katrina Grant (Auckland), Laura Langman (captain, Waikato), Emma McGeorge (Otago), Grace Rasmussen (Auckland), Rachel Rasmussen (Auckland), Te Huinga Reo Selby Rickett (Western), Wendy Telfer (Southland), Anna Thompson (Canterbury), Jessica Tuki (Western), Maria Tutaia (Auckland), Casey Williams (Waikato).
Itinerary
Feb 17: leave for Jamaica
Feb 23: v Jamaica Under-21 (Kingston)
Feb 24: Jamaica Invitation team
Feb 25: Jamaica Under-21 (Kingston)
Feb 26: travel to Fort Lauderdale
Feb 27- March 2: v US, England Under-21 and Australia Under-21.
