Netball: Ameliaranne Ekenasio remains Silver Ferns captain, Phoenix Karaka named vice-captain to end 2023

Ameliaranne Ekenasio.
Ameliaranne Ekenasio. Photo credit: Getty Images

Ameliaranne Ekenasio will continue as captain of the Silver Ferns, while defender Phoenix Karaka has been named as her deputy to finish the 2023 season.   

Ekenasio, 32, was named NZ skipper in 2020, before taking a break from the game to give birth to her second child.   

Now back in the side, she has been backed by coach Dame Noeline Taurua and the rest of the team to remain the leader of the national side, after a vote.    

Joining her will be Karaka, who captains Northern Mystics in the ANZ Premiership.    

Karaka, 29, has played 58 tests for New Zealand, and was part of the NZ side that won bronze at last year's Commonwealth Games in Birmingham and gold at the 2019 World Cup.

 

"Ameliaranne and Phoenix are both experienced campaigners, have great leadership qualities and are well-equipped to take the Silver Ferns forward, while leading from the front," said Dame Noeline.   

Karaka's leadership is a vital boost for the national team, who are without former vice-captain Gina Crampton for the immediate future, currently on sabbatical away from netball, after this year's World Cup.    

The duo's first assignment as leaders together will come in this month's Taini Jamison Trophy against England, with three tests, before the Constellation Cup against Australia.  

Join Newshub at 4pm Sunday for live updates of the Silver Ferns v England series opener