FAST5 Ferns Assemble in Auckland Tomorrow
Media Release
5 November 2013
The FAST5 Ferns management have assembled in Auckland today, with the FAST5 Ferns arriving in the morning ahead of
Friday’s opening day of the FAST5 Netball World Series at Vector Arena.
With a new FAST5 Ferns Captain in Casey Kopua and newly appointed FAST5 Ferns coaching staff of Janine Southby and
Assistant Coach Julie Seymour, it’s a different side to the one which won gold 12 months ago, but just as determined.
The week starts off with training sessions as the team gather together after a tough international season. It’s the
first time Kopua has played FAST5 Netball, so other returning players like Laura Langman, Maria Tutaia, Anna Thompson,
Te Huinga Reo Selby-Rickit and Katrina Grant will be showing her the ropes.
Also joining the team for the first time, Silver Fern team members Shannon Francois, Courtney Tairi, Katarina Cooper and
Cathrine Latu. The team is ably managed by Dee Leggat with Marion Meates in the physio role.
Tomorrow sees Kopua and Southby join the five other team captain’s and coaches for the Captain’s Call, a media session
and introduction to be held at the Pullman Hotel in Auckland’s CBD. This will be the first time players and coaches will
have seen each other this week. Over the course of the next few days, all six teams will get the opportunity to walk
through Vector Arena and get their bearings and attend training sessions at different venues around the city.
The FAST5 Ferns have two matches scheduled on Friday, three on Saturday and if they finish in the top four, two matches
on Finals Day. Expectations are high for the home side playing in front of a vocal crowd at Auckland’s largest indoor
stadium and by all accounts, supporters are in for a roller coaster three days.
-Ends-