Latest news with #AmeliaWalmsley
Otago Daily Times
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Otago Daily Times
Walmsley aims for U21, Ferns
Amelia Walmsley of the Silver Ferns in action during the 2023 Constellation Cup series. PHOTO: GETTY IMAGES Amelia Walmsley has signalled her intent to represent both the New Zealand under-21 side and the Silver Ferns this season. The six-cap Silver Fern, who could have a big role to play with starting shooter Grace Nweke ineligible, has made herself available for the under-21 squad for the Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar in late September. However that means she will be out for the Silver Ferns Taini Jamieson series against South Africa in the same month. The Silver Ferns are set to play the Proteas in Auckland, Napier, and Invercargill from September 21 to 28. Incumbent shooter Maia Wilson could be in line for more game time at the back and some players could be in line for a recall for the series with two main goal shoots out. Walmsley, 21, confirmed her availability for the Constellation Cup series against Australia in October. "This was an incredibly difficult decision, but one I feel truly privileged to be in a position to make," Walmsley said. "I'm confident I can fully commit to both New Zealand under-21 and Silver Ferns campaigns should the opportunity arise." Making herself available for both programmes came down to a desire to test herself in a World Cup environment to set herself up for the future. "Equally important to me is the opportunity to return to the Silver Ferns space after the tournament, if selected. "Wearing the black dress is something I never take for granted. "Ultimately, this decision allows me to gain the best of both worlds." Silver Ferns coach Noeline Taurua commended Walmsley for her maturity in working through the decision. "We fully support Amelia's decision to make herself available for both teams and have worked closely with her to ensure she has a sustainable plan in place," Taurua said. "What she could gain from the Netball World Youth Cup is invaluable. "We're proud of the way she's approached this decision. "There are no guarantees around selection for either team, but her intent and commitment speak volumes."
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Pulse Looking For Big Lift Against Stars
Press Release – Pulse Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse are seeking a quick return to form when they face off against a rejuvenated Stars team in Round three of the ANZ Premiership netball league in Auckland on Saturday. The Pulse will go into the match with some repair work to be done after being ambushed by the Mystics in the latest round while the Stars overcame injury woes and a bereavement within the group to post an emotive and confidence-boosting win against the Tactix. Well-used to their own battles with injury, the Stars situation is not lost on the Pulse. 'When a team goes through so much adversity and hardship, it brings people together and they were playing for more than just the game in their last outing,'' Pulse shooter Amelia Walmsley said of the Stars. 'I think they've come together really well, they're such a strong side and definitely not a team that you want to under-estimate. 'They showed they've got some real good skill and they're a team who plays possession well. They're gritty and can grind it out, so we need to find a way to expose that and reduce their possession by forcing errors and turnovers. It's going to be a big game.'' Disappointed with their last performance which was littered with soft errors and turnovers has provided a timely reality check. 'If you're going to lose, you want to lose early (in the season) and get on top of it quick,'' the lofty southpaw shooter said. 'That game definitely wasn't a reflection of how hard we work and the potential we have as a team. It was disappointing and the analysis we've done has brought out that we just need to nail the basics and control what we can control, doing our own jobs better and tidying things up. 'I was slightly disappointed in my performance after last week. We hold ourselves to a higher standard and we didn't quite meet that, so I've got a lot more work to do in order to make sure the defence against me don't look good,'' she said. Happy with how her actual shot is working, Walmsley is currently sitting on a 92 percent success rate. Still refining and defining her craft in the circle, Walmsley, the 21-year-old, 1.92m target at the front end of the Pulse court, has made major strides since gaining her first fulltime contract fresh out of Howick College in 2022. Thrust into the starter's role in 2023, Wamsley has continued to stamp her mark, quickly gaining promotion to the 2023-24 Silver Ferns squad while improving all the time across all facets and with her best yet to come. That has led to the unique opportunity of her being available for selection in both the NZU21 team for the Netball World Youth Cup 2025 (September) in Gibraltar and the Silver Ferns for the Constellation Cup Series against the Australian Diamonds in October. The decision to make herself available for both campaigns was not taken lightly. 'This was an incredibly difficult decision, but one I feel truly privileged to be in a position to make,' she said. 'With a carefully tailored schedule from the Silver Ferns high performance team, I'm confident I can fully commit to both NZU21 and Silver Ferns campaigns should the opportunity arise.'' Walmsley is keen to experience the environment of a Netball World Youth Cup and represent her age group one final time while expanding her leadership abilities and challenging herself against a variety of international styles. 'Equally important to me is the opportunity to return to the Silver Ferns space after the tournament, if selected. Wearing the black dress is something I never take for granted, and I believe that what I could gain in the NZU21 environment would only strengthen what I can offer in the Silver Ferns environment,'' she said. 'If I get the opportunity to come back and play in the Constellation Cup series, it will give me the chance to continue to grow and learn, further establish myself in this space, and continue to strive towards selection for future campaigns. Ultimately, this decision allows me to gain the best of both worlds.' Studying part-time, Walmsley is halfway through a digital marketing degree through Massey University.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Pulse Looking For Big Lift Against Stars
Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse are seeking a quick return to form when they face off against a rejuvenated Stars team in Round three of the ANZ Premiership netball league in Auckland on Saturday. The Pulse will go into the match with some repair work to be done after being ambushed by the Mystics in the latest round while the Stars overcame injury woes and a bereavement within the group to post an emotive and confidence-boosting win against the Tactix. Well-used to their own battles with injury, the Stars situation is not lost on the Pulse. 'When a team goes through so much adversity and hardship, it brings people together and they were playing for more than just the game in their last outing,'' Pulse shooter Amelia Walmsley said of the Stars. 'I think they've come together really well, they're such a strong side and definitely not a team that you want to under-estimate. 'They showed they've got some real good skill and they're a team who plays possession well. They're gritty and can grind it out, so we need to find a way to expose that and reduce their possession by forcing errors and turnovers. It's going to be a big game.'' Disappointed with their last performance which was littered with soft errors and turnovers has provided a timely reality check. 'If you're going to lose, you want to lose early (in the season) and get on top of it quick,'' the lofty southpaw shooter said. 'That game definitely wasn't a reflection of how hard we work and the potential we have as a team. It was disappointing and the analysis we've done has brought out that we just need to nail the basics and control what we can control, doing our own jobs better and tidying things up. 'I was slightly disappointed in my performance after last week. We hold ourselves to a higher standard and we didn't quite meet that, so I've got a lot more work to do in order to make sure the defence against me don't look good,'' she said. Happy with how her actual shot is working, Walmsley is currently sitting on a 92 percent success rate. Still refining and defining her craft in the circle, Walmsley, the 21-year-old, 1.92m target at the front end of the Pulse court, has made major strides since gaining her first fulltime contract fresh out of Howick College in 2022. Thrust into the starter's role in 2023, Wamsley has continued to stamp her mark, quickly gaining promotion to the 2023-24 Silver Ferns squad while improving all the time across all facets and with her best yet to come. That has led to the unique opportunity of her being available for selection in both the NZU21 team for the Netball World Youth Cup 2025 (September) in Gibraltar and the Silver Ferns for the Constellation Cup Series against the Australian Diamonds in October. The decision to make herself available for both campaigns was not taken lightly. 'This was an incredibly difficult decision, but one I feel truly privileged to be in a position to make,' she said. 'With a carefully tailored schedule from the Silver Ferns high performance team, I'm confident I can fully commit to both NZU21 and Silver Ferns campaigns should the opportunity arise.'' Walmsley is keen to experience the environment of a Netball World Youth Cup and represent her age group one final time while expanding her leadership abilities and challenging herself against a variety of international styles. 'Equally important to me is the opportunity to return to the Silver Ferns space after the tournament, if selected. Wearing the black dress is something I never take for granted, and I believe that what I could gain in the NZU21 environment would only strengthen what I can offer in the Silver Ferns environment,'' she said. 'If I get the opportunity to come back and play in the Constellation Cup series, it will give me the chance to continue to grow and learn, further establish myself in this space, and continue to strive towards selection for future campaigns. Ultimately, this decision allows me to gain the best of both worlds.'
Scoop
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Scoop
Silver Fern Amelia Walmsley Available For NZU21 And Silver Ferns Selection
Rising Silver Ferns shooter Amelia Walmsley has confirmed her availability for selection for both the NZU21 team for the Netball World Youth Cup 2025 (NWYC2025) in Gibraltar and the Silver Ferns for the Constellation Cup Series against the Australian Diamonds later this year. The NWYC2025 is the pinnacle event for emerging netballers under the age of 21 and will be held at the Tercentenary Sports Hall and Europa Sports Park in Gibraltar 19th – 28th September. Meanwhile, the Constellation Cup – a four-Test series between netball's fiercest rivals – will begin in Australia 17 October before concluding on home soil in Aotearoa New Zealand, 29 October. Walmsley, who made her Silver Ferns debut in September 2023 against England and has six Test caps to her name, said the decision to make herself available for both campaigns was not taken lightly. 'This was an incredibly difficult decision, but one I feel truly privileged to be in a position to make,' said Walmsley. 'I'm grateful to Dame Noeline and Julie for their support, and to the players who openly shared their Netball World Youth Cup experiences, both those who took part and those who didn't. Their insights were valuable in helping me make a decision. 'With a carefully tailored schedule from the Silver Ferns high performance team, I'm confident I can fully commit to both NZU21 and Silver Ferns campaigns should the opportunity arise. 'Making myself available for NZU21 selection came from a desire to experience a Netball World Youth Cup environment and the unique opportunity to represent my age group one final time. I see this as a chance to expand my leadership, challenge myself, and gain exposure to 20 different international styles. It's an opportunity that will help me develop as a person, player, and teammate in any environment. It is also one that prepares me for potential future involvement in World Cups or the Commonwealth Games. 'Equally important to me is the opportunity to return to the Silver Ferns space after the tournament, if selected. Wearing the black dress is something I never take for granted, and I believe that what I could gain in the NZU21 environment would only strengthen what I can offer in the Silver Ferns environment. 'If I get the opportunity to come back and play in the Constellation Cup series, it will give me the chance to continue to grow and learn, further establish myself in this space, and continue to strive towards selection for future campaigns like the Netball World Cup and Commonwealth Games. 'Ultimately, this decision allows me to gain the best of both worlds. A space to grow and compete on the youth international stage, and the opportunity to carry that growth forward to serve the black dress.' Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua commended Walmsley for her maturity in working through the decision and reiterated her support for players gaining meaningful experiences across both programmes. 'We fully support Amelia's decision to make herself available for both teams and have worked closely with her to ensure she has a sustainable plan in place,' said Dame Noeline. 'What she could gain from the Netball World Youth Cup is invaluable – the leadership opportunity, international exposure, and personal growth all contribute to her continued development in our Silver Ferns environment. 'We're proud of the way she's approached this decision and the thought she's put into what's best for her growth as both a player and a person. There are no guarantees around selection for either team, but her intent and commitment speak volumes.' NZU21 head coach Julie Seymour echoed Dame Noeline's sentiments and praised the alignment between the high-performance programmes. 'Having Amelia make herself available for selection is a real positive for the NZU21 group, and it reflects the strength of the collaboration between our high-performance environments,' Seymour said. 'We've worked closely with the Silver Ferns management team to ensure that any player who may be eligible and interested in the Netball World Youth Cup has the right support. Amelia's availability is a credit to that process. If selected, she would bring invaluable experience to the group and gain just as much in return.' The Constellation Cup will begin with two Tests in Australia before returning to New Zealand for the final two matches: Game 1: Diamonds v Silver Ferns – Friday 17 October, John Cain Arena, Melbourne Game 2: Diamonds v Silver Ferns – Wednesday 22 October, Qudos Bank Arena, Sydney Game 3: Silver Ferns v Diamonds – Sunday 26 October, GLOBOX Arena, Hamilton Game 4: Silver Ferns v Diamonds – Wednesday 29 October, Wolfbrook Arena, Christchurch Amelia Walmsley Silver Fern #184 Positions: GS, GA Date of Birth: 31 January 2004 Height: 192cm Test Caps: 6 Debut: 27 September 2023 v England Roses
RNZ News
10-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
ANZ Premership live updates: Pulse v Magic
Amelia Walmsley of the Pulse, during the ANZ Premiership match against the Magic. Photo: Photosport The ANZ Premership is back for another season, with last year's minor premiers the Pulse up against the Magic. Play starts at 4pm Saturday. Follow all the action with RNZ's live blog:
