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Firebirds Futures duo earn Australian 21/U squad selection
FIREBIRDS Futures duo Lillyana Rennie and Elsa Sif Sandholt have been named in a 24-strong Australian 21/U squad.
FIREBIRDS Futures duo Lillyana Rennie and Elsa Sif Sandholt have been named in a 24-strong Australian 21/U squad.
The squad, selected by a coaching panel including 21/U Head Coach Cathy Fellows, Netball Australia’s Chair of Selectors Michelle Wilkins and Netball Australia Pathway Head Coach Anita Keelan has been named as preparations begin towards the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar.
Defender Rennie, a Queensland Firebirds training partner, and shooter Sandholt are Netball Queensland pathway athletes who both featured for the Firebirds Futures in this year’s Super Netball Reserves competition.
“We’re very excited for both Lillyana and Elsa to have been selected in this squad,” Firebirds Futures Head Coach Jess Whitfort said.
“This is a significant opportunity for both of these young athletes to continue their development and it’s great to know that these Queenslanders will be representing the country in the build-up to the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup.”
The selected group of athletes will complete a three-day training camp in Sydney this August, before heading to Fiji for a training first – The Rising Stars: Fiji 21/U Tour.
Taking on 21/U teams from Fiji, New Zealand and Singapore – the tour is a valuable competition experience for Australia’s squad.
Playing at Vodafone Arena in Suva, Fiji from August 19-23, the four nations will compete in match play across the week to foster international connections and prepare players for elite competitions.
It’s the first step on the journey towards naming a final squad of 12 players to represent Australia in Gibraltar next September.
Suncorp Super Netball umpires Georgina Sulley-Beales and Jordan Kiss will also join the Rising Stars Tour to officiate on-court and assist with some local development during the tour.
The Rising Stars: Fiji 21/U Tour is supported by the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports Program in partnership with Netball Australia and participating countries.
2024 Australian 21/U Squad Athletes:
Ruth Aryang – Western Australia
Nicola Barge – New South Wales
Sophie Casey – South Australia
Georgie Cleaver – Western Australia
Harriet Gall – Victoria
Lily Graham – Victoria
Kayla Graham – South Australia
Scarlet Jauncey – Western Australia
Nevaeh Matenga – New South Wales
Paige O'Neill – Tasmania
Monika ‘Otai – New South Wales
Tabitha Packer – South Australia
Lillyana Rennie – Queensland
Charisse Rond – Western Australia
Frederika Schneideman – New South Wales
Charlotte Sexton – Victoria
Ruby Shannon – Victoria
Elsa Sif Sandholt – Queensland
Lucy Voyvodic – South Australia
Charlotte Walker – Tasmania
Hope White – New South Wales
Grace Whyte – New South Wales
Clara Wigley – Western Australia
Olivia Wilkinson – Western Australia