The team is (new players denoted *):

Coach Sean Horan has selected 27-year-old former Canterbury Tactix netballer Keshia Grant and Hamilton Girls’ High School’s star captain Ariana Hira-Herangi for the pre-curser tournament to the IRB Women’s Sevens World Series.

“Keshia is a very polished athlete with a great work ethic.  She comes to us having played top level netball, she is a former junior javelin champion and a great all around athlete.

“She hasn’t played a lot of rugby but has been with Canterbury and had a few games. She’s got loads of natural talent and is just eager to learn as much as she can.”

At just 18, Hira-Herangi has finally moved from the development squad to earn her first tournament selection.

“Ariana has been a hard toiler, and she has shown patience as she has developed through the asevens programme.   I’m really excited for her and think she’ll make a fantastic addition to the team,” Horan said.

Horan has opted to give players short on tournament time, an opportunity to play their way into contention for selection in the first World Series tournament in Dubai later this year.

“We’re looking to build depth and really this is about giving girls who have not had a lot of tournaments, an opportunity to test themselves in this environment.

“Noosa will be a great challenge for them because we expect the conditions to be very hot, and very tough on them but this is also about seeing who can step up to the challenge,” he said.

With Huriana Manuel out injured (leg) until early next year at the earliest, Manawatu’s Sarah Goss assumes captaincy duties.