Netball: Silver Ferns call-up for South African

New Silver Fern Leana du Plooy says being told yesterday of her selection for the tour of Britain was a "big moment" after she feared she might miss out.

Du Plooy, 25, a former South African international, is the sole debutante in the 12-strong party to tour Wales and England next month.

The 1.9m defender was added to the national training camp in Auckland last week after Anna Veronese's withdrawal because of pregnancy, and making the next step up was "a dream come true".

"It was a big moment for me," she said. "I was a little anxious. I didn't have the best of trials, so I wasn't sure I would get in."

Du Plooy had gone into the camp with a back injury caused by cramped conditions during a long-haul flight back from South Africa a fortnight ago, and missed one of the three trials.

She believed she was now at 85 per cent fitness and was confident she would be fully over the problem when the squad left on February 17.

Du Plooy played 34 times for the country of her birth, the last during the Tri-Nations tournament in Australia in 2001, when New Zealand were also involved.

She joins fellow former Protea Irene van Dyk and former Fiji captain Vilimaina Davu in the tour party.

She rang her parents in the Free State Province with the news and said they had no concerns about her change of allegiance. "They were delighted and really happy."

Du Plooy will turn out for Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic this year after previous stints in the National Bank Cup with Southern Sting and Capital Shakers.

She first made the Silver Fern squad last September, but missed out on playing in the series against South Africa two months later.

Coach Ruth Aitken said Du Plooy had came close to selection then.

"She had to go away in the summer and keep improving on her fitness, and she did.

"She's very agile and has that lovely, long defensive body. She has a great reach and puts shooters off."

The Silver Ferns, to be skippered by Anna Rowberry, also feature the inclusion of Adine Harper in the shooting line.

Aitken said Harper had pushed hard to get back into the team.

"When players experience disappointment, they can do one of two things - they can decide it's not for them, or they just work harder.

"She's a great athlete and I'm delighted she's back."

Aitken said the fact that there was just one new cap, despite the withdrawals of Veronese, Temepera Clark for work reasons and Daneka Wipiiti from the camp, showed the consistency at the top level.

The Silver Ferns will play Wales, an England development side and three tests against England, with the tour being used as a build-up to the world championships in Jamaica in July.

Aitken said players not selected could still force their way in for a three-test return series against England in June, and for the world tournament.

National trials would be held over Easter.

Silver Ferns: Irene van Dyk, Belinda Colling, Angela Mitchell (nee Evans), Adine Harper, Anna Rowberry (captain), Jenny-May Coffin, Victoria Edward, Lesley Nicol, Leana Du Plooy, Sheryl Clarke, Anna Scarlett, Vilimaina Davu.

- NZPA