Two leading netballers have declared their unavailability for New Zealand's tour of South Africa next month.
Defender Belinda Charteris has withdrawn from the Silver Ferns squad after announcing her first pregnancy, while shooter Donna Loffhagen wants to take a break from top-level sport.
After a world netball championships campaign in 1999 and
playing basketball for her country at the Olympic Games in Sydney, Loffhagen feels it is appropriate to take time off.
Although unavailable for the South African tour, she will remain in the New Zealand netball squad for 2001.
"I have been going non-stop since the build-up before the netball world championships last year," Loffhagen said.
"Now that the Olympics are over I really feel like my body needs a decent rest.
"I don't want to go into a series against Australia and South Africa feeling tired. "It's much better for me to take a break and be fully refreshed and prepared for 2001."
While Loffhagen takes a short break until early next year when the New Zealand squad camps start again, Charteris will take a little longer before returning to the sport.
Charteris, aged 28, who had played 51 tests since making her debut for the Silver Ferns in 1994, is due to have her first child next April.
She joins former Silver Fern and Canterbury team-mate Julie Seymour on the sideline due to pregnancy, but both players have indicated they want to make a return to netball for next year's NPC competition.
No additions have been made to the New Zealand squad of 15, but the national selectors will consider inviting additional players into forthcoming squad camps.
The first camp takes place in Auckland from October 13 to 15.
- NZPA
