New netball faces as Diamonds prepare for England Tests

Melissa Woods |

Rudi Ellis (left) is one of three players in line for an international debut for the Diamonds.
Rudi Ellis (left) is one of three players in line for an international debut for the Diamonds.

Three Australian netballers are in line for a possible international debut with Diamonds coach Stacey Marinkovich naming a 15-strong side to face England next month.

Goalkeeper Rudi Ellis has been elevated from an invitee to the official Australian squad, and will be pushing to make her debut in the green and gold alongside new squad members in Adelaide wing attack Georgie Horjus and Sunshine Coast defender Ash Ervin.

Skipper Liz Watson has been joined by vice captain Paige Hadley, Kate Moloney, Amy Parmenter and Jamie-Lee Price in the midcourt.

Ervin and the Melbourne Vixens’ Ellis have been selected alongside fellow defenders Sarah Klau, Sunday Aryang and Matilda Garrett.

Goalers Horjus, Cara Koenen, Kiera Austin, Sophie Garbin and Sophie Dwyer round out the England series squad.

Georgie Horjus.
Georgie Horjus has been called into the Australian squad to play England. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS)

Courtney Bruce and Joanna Weston were unavailable for selection due to injury, but are expected to return to put their hands up for the Constellation Cup against New Zealand in October.

“We are really excited to bring the squad together in Canberra as we begin to combine and connect new combinations in preparation for the England Series,” Marinkovich said in a statement.

“We will continue to explore our depth and versatility across the court and work to transfer this to the international arena. 

“This is the beginning of a new four-year performance cycle leading into the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney so we will be methodical in our build and development of our group.”

The first match of the England Series will be played at the Adelaide Entertainment Centre on Thursday September 19 before matches in Sydney (September 22) and Bendigo (September 25).

Diamond squad: Sunday Aryang (West Coast Fever), Kiera Austin (Melbourne Vixens), Sophie Dwyer (Giants), Rudi Ellis (Melbourne Vixens), Ash Ervin (Sunshine Coast Lightning),  Sophie Garbin (Melbourne Vixens), Matilda Garrett (Adelaide Thunderbirds), Paige Hadley (NSW Swifts),  Georgie Horjus (Adelaide Thunderbirds), Sarah Klau (NSW Swifts), Cara Koenen (Sunshine Coast Lightning), Kate Moloney (Melbourne Vixens), Amy Parmenter, (Melbourne Mavericks), Jamie-Lee Price (Giants), Liz Watson (Sunshine Coast Lightning).

AAP