SEVERN Stars have drafted in three new players in preparation for next month’s inaugural British Fast5 All-Stars Championship.
South Africa duo Phumza Maweni and Maryka Holtzhausen and former Team Bath goal shooter/goal attack Rosie Allison will join the familiar faces of Eleanor Cardwell, Jodie Gibson, Iona Darroch, Laura Malcolm, Becky Oatley, Sophie Carter and Clare Elsley for the tournament on Saturday, September 23 at The O2 in London.
Stars head coach Sam Bird is looking to put a marker down in the eight-team competition ahead of the 2018 Vitality Netball Superleague campaign by recruiting the talents of Maweni and Holtzhausen, who play for KZN Kingdom Stars and Free State respectively in the South African Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League.
Allison, who played for Team Bath from 2008 to 2014, including their title-winning side in 2013, will also join up with the Stars Fast5 squad.
The 26-year-old brings a wealth of experience having played for England Roses from junior to senior level, including two World Youth Championships.
Bird said: “I’m looking forward to working with this fantastic squad in the Fast5 series. It’ll be the first time many of them have played this format of netball in a competition and represents an exciting challenge for us all.”
The University of Worcester Arena outfit will compete in a five-player double elimination group stage for a spot in the All-Stars Championship semi-finals.
New formats to the game include a double-point ‘Power Play’, five-point line and 12-minute matches, with the eventual winners taking home £25,000.