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Netball New Zealand says it has no idea when or if Dame Noeline Taurua will return as Silver Ferns head coach.
The World Cup-winning mentor and her assistant, Deb Fuller, have been replaced by former Pulse coach Yvette McCausland-Durie and current Southern Steel assistant Liana Leota for the Taini Jamisonseries against South Africa starting on Sunday week.
In a statement on Wednesday afternoon, Netball NZ said discussions were ongoing between the national body, Taurua and the Silver Ferns management team regarding proposed changes to the Silver Ferns High Performance programme and environment.
“We have been unable to resolve issues to everyone’s satisfaction in the time available before the Taini Jamison Series,” it read.
Netball NZ board chairman Matt Whineray has been asked by Newstalk ZB if Taurua’s time as Silver Ferns coach is over.
“We just have to keep going with these discussions and see if we can get there in terms of where we want the environment to be. Once we understand that, then we’ll see where we go.”
Whineray has been asked what happened.
“We’ve had some issues that we haven’t been able to resolve to everybody’s satisfaction, so what we’ve done for the Taini Jamison series is stood Dame Noeline down.
“They’re just issues related to the environment, how we operate that environment and how all the players, management and team operate in that environment.”
Whineray refused to confirm whether senior players are involved in the discussions.
Sport Nation reported the players are boycotting Taurua due to her “old school approaches”.
It comes after several players ruled themselves out of Silver Ferns contention, including former skipper Ameliaranne Ekenasio, Jane Watson, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Tiana Metuarau and Ellie Bird.
New Zealand Netball has moved to stand down Silver Ferns head coach Noeline Taurua for the upcoming Taini Jamison Series against South Africa. Photo / Photosport
Whineray said all parties involved remained hopeful of a resolution.
“We have a long relationship with Dame Noeline and her record with successive Silver Ferns teams speaks for itself.
“At this time, however, we need to focus on supporting players on the immediate challenge of playing South Africa.”
McCausland-Durie is a vastly experienced coach, having won three ANZ Premiership titles with the Central Pulse.
Former Silver Fern Liana Leota was an England assistant coach and this year joined the Steel in the ANZ Premiership.
The Silver Ferns’ three-match Taini Jamison Series against the South Africa Proteas is set to start on September 21 in Auckland, before going to Napier and Invercargill.
After taking the helm in 2018, Taurua led the Silver Ferns to a 2019 World Cup victory. However, four years later, the team experienced their worst World Cup performance, finishing fourth in South Africa.
When her contract expired in January last year, Netball New Zealand opened the head coach role to applicants, consulting Taurua during the process.
After reapplying and interviewing, the now 57-year-old was reappointed on a two-year deal in April 2024, with an eye towards the 2027 World Cup in Sydney.
The England Roses claimed the Taini Jamison Trophy last year for the first time since 2021, beating the Silver Ferns two games to one.
Nathan Limmhas been a journalist with Newstalk ZB and the New Zealand Herald since 2020. He covered the Netball World Cup in Cape Town in 2023, hosts The Big League Podcast and commentates on rugby and netball for Gold Sport.
