Silver Fern Te Paea Selby-Rickit poised to return to black dress

Silver Fern Te Paea Selby-Rickit is poised to return to black dress after more than three years after being named in the squad for next month's Constellation Cup against Australia.Selby-Rickit stepped away from international netball following the 2023 Netball World Cup. The veteran shooter said she enjoyed a better work-life balance after several years juggling domestic and international programmes.The 34-year-old crossed the ditch earlier this year to play for the Queensland Firebirds in Australia's Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) competition, where she enjoyed a strong rookie campaign.Selby-Rickit, who will play for the Firebirds again next year, has been named in a 14-strong team for the Constellation Cup.The team retains the core of the side that claimed Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow in August, where the Silver Ferns went through the tournament unbeaten before defeating Jamaica in the final.Micourter Peta Toeava and defender Parris Mason are the other two additions from outside the Commonwealth Games squad.The only omission is Catherine Hall, who suffered an ACL injury at the Games, which could rule her out for up to a year.Three changes will follow for the three-match series against the Net Blacks (the NZ Men's team) in November.Tactix defender Laura Balmer is in line for a potential Silver Ferns debut, alongside the return of shooter Aliyah Dunn and midcourter Tayla Earle.Silver Ferns head coach Dame Noeline Taurua said the two teams reflected both the immediate challenge of the Constellation Cup and the longer build towards Netball World Cup."The Constellation Cup is always a really tough series. Australia are the number one ranked team in the world and we have a huge amount of respect for them, the quality they bring and the history between our two teams. We know what it takes to compete against Australia and we're expecting another fiercely contested series," Taurua said."For us, it's about building on the team and combinations that performed so strongly at the Commonwealth Games. The additions of Te Paea, Peta and Parris further strengthen those combinations and give us different options across the court."Taurua said the series against the Net Blacks allows them to give more playing opportunities to other players, in what will be a challenging and physical series."It's also another opportunity to grow the experience of athletes in this environment, test combinations and continue building the depth we need as we head into a World Cup year."We were back in camp last week for the first time since the Commonwealth Games and it was great to see the energy and hunger within the group. We're looking forward to the challenge of both series and can't wait to get back out on court."The Silver Ferns open the Constellation Cup against the Diamonds at Spark Arena in Auckland on Sunday 18 October. The Diamonds head into the series as the world's top-ranked side and reigning Cup holders, but have not won a Test on New Zealand soil since 2021.Silver Ferns Constellation Cup teamShooters: Georgia Heffernan, Grace Nweke, Martina Salmon, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Amelia WalmsleyMidcourters: Maddy Gordon, Kate Heffernan, Kimiora Poi, Mila Reuelu-Buchanan, Peta ToeavaDefenders: Karin Burger, Kelly Jackson, Parris Mason, Carys StytheSilver Ferns series v Net Blacks (NZ men's team)Shooters: Aliyah Dunn, Grace Nweke, Martina Salmon, Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Amelia WalmsleyMidcourters: Tayla Earle, Maddy Gordon, Kimiora Poi, Peta ToeavaDefenders: Laura Balmer, Karin Burger, Kelly Jackson, Parris Mason, Carys Stythe