Netball: Latu in, pending court's decision

Ruth Aitken. Photo / Brett Phibbs

Former Samoan shooter Cathrine Latu is set to be named in the Silver Ferns world championship netball squad next week, despite a legal challenge over her eligibility remaining unresolved.

After 18 months of petitioning the International Federation of Netball Associations (IFNA), Netball New Zealand last month took their battle to the world's highest sporting judicial body to have Auckland-born Latu declared eligible to represent the Ferns.

But as New Zealand coach Ruth Aitken notes, "the wheels of justice take a long, long time to turn", and the International Court of Arbitration for Sport appears no closer to making a ruling.

That has left the selectors in a bit of a bind, with the team for the July world tournament to be named next Tuesday.

It is expected the team's selectors will name Latu in the 12, but an asterisk will hover next to her name until the court releases its decision.

Aitken said she would have liked to have some certainty around Latu's status before naming the team, but insists the problem this poses for the selectors isn't complicated.

"[The Court of Arbitration] haven't come back yet with a date for a hearing and we're certainly disappointed, we understood that that would have happened a lot faster," she said.

"But it's probably similar to the injury situation that we've got with Joline [Henry] at the moment, you keep boxing on as though they are available until such time that you're told they're not, whether that be by medical or legal people."

Where things could get complicated is if the court rules against Netball NZ and the Ferns are forced to call in a replacement.

By naming Latu the national body risks marginalising the player who misses out.

But the alternative - naming a player, then dropping them if Latu's eligibility comes through - would be even messier.

Aitken, who is known as a strong people manager, said she will not name a direct replacement for Latu if the legal bid fails.

Instead she will draw from the wider New Zealand squad, who will be expected to continue training after the ANZ Championship wraps up next month.

Aitken said the selectors would not be naming replacements for any players who have outstanding eligibility or medical issues.

"Rather than just naming one player on standby we will ensure that a group of players are aware that they're the next lot."

Netball New Zealand chief executive Raelene Castle said she has had no indication yet from the Court of Arbitration for Sport of when a hearing date might be.

Once the case is heard it would be expected to take about one week for the judicial panel to release their decision.

The Silver Ferns will begin their preparation for the world championships with two warm-up tests against Australia in June.

Latu will be eligible to play in these matches regardless of whether the court has made a ruling at that point, as the tests are not IFNA-affiliated events.