Marking a highlight in their careers, Netball Central Zone players Amelia Walmsley, Laura Balmer and Sarah Guiney will line up for the New Zealand U21 team to contest next month's World Youth Cup in Gibraltar.
Following a comprehensive two-year programme, the trio were confirmed in the travelling team of 12 at the completion of a final selection process involving 23 athletes.
In an even spread across the Zones, Central and South have three players apiece while seven of the 12 were ANZ Premiership-contracted players, the others plying their trade in the competitive Synergy Hair Netball League (SHNL).
"Our goal is to provide opportunities for our players to push for higher honours and we're delighted that through their hard work Amelia, Laura and Sarah will get to show that at the World Youth Cup," Netball Central Director of High Performance Waimarama Taumaunu said.
"It is a special achievement in a player's career and they are fully deserving of this opportunity."
Taumaunu also acknowledged the contribution of Netball Central players Madi Thomas (defender) and Phoenix Schwalger (shooter), who were among the 23 trialists but missed out on final selection.
Shooter Walmsley was a standout under the hoop for Te Wananga o Raukawa Pulse this season through her accuracy, poise and athletic ability. From 511 attempts at goal, Walmsley missed just 19 shots throughout the season to top allcomers with a 96 percent accuracy return.
A rookie at the elite level, rangy defender Balmer grabbed her opportunities late in the season with a series of strong performances for the Pulse to highlight her growth and ongoing potential.
Playing the last couple of seasons in the SHNL for Central Manawa, shooter Guiney is a creative goal attack with a strong presence outside the circle while also proving an accurate finisher.
A Silver Fern since 2023 and the most experienced in the NZU21 team, Walmsley is relishing the opportunity to expand her credentials.
"I think being able to represent the country in a slightly different way is really special, with it being in my age group. It looks a little bit different to the Ferns but I'm just really excited for it," she said.
"I'm hoping to bring some experience into the environment and being able to share my knowledge where I can but also just super excited to absorb all the new learnings that I'll be able to gain from this experience."
"In terms of being one of the older ones with more experience, there's definitely a sense of leadership in there as well. I'm really wanting to just lead by example which is really important to me, so I hope that I can bring that in and lead in ways that will help support the team."
"It's definitely a big step towards just gaining and building experience playing against different teams, growing in my leadership and just growing in my game as an athlete and as a person."
And she's looking forward to having a couple of familiar faces alongside her.
"Laura (Balmer) has been talking about this for a long time and we were both hoping that we'd be able to go together and be able to share this experience and then with Sarah (Guiney) involved as well, is super cool for her," she said.
"She's had an amazing SHNL this year and this is a big reward being able to be involved in the 21s space, so I feel like going all together, representing the Central Zone the best we can will be really important."
There will be several camps scattered across the next few weeks ahead of the team's departure for Gibraltar where they open their campaign against Zambia on September 20.
New Zealand are the defending champions having won back-to-back titles in Botswana in 2017 and Scotland in 2013. The 2021 edition to be held in Fiji was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
2025 NZU21 Netball World Youth Cup Team
- Amelia Walmsley – Pulse
- Charlotte Manley – Mystics
- Ella Southby – South
- Josie Seymour – Mainland
- Kaiya Kepa – WBOP
- Kate Taylor – Magic
- Khanye-Lii Munro-Nonoa – Steel
- Laura Balmer – Pulse
- Losa Fifita – Northern
- Sarah Guiney – Central
- Serina Daunakamakama – Steel
- Taiana Day – Mainland
Non-Travelling Reserves
- Avah Sila – Northern
- Stacey Ah Van – Northern
- Summer Temu – Steel