‘Coach Dame Noeline Taurua Sidelined by Silver Ferns as Constellation Cup Looms’

This article originally appeared on Stuff and is reproduced with permission

Netball NZ’s unexpected decision to remove coach Dame Noeline Taurua from her role has the potential to send ripples through the sport and unsettle the Silver Ferns on the eve of the Constellation Cup.

The national body for New Zealand netball announced on Wednesday that Taurua will not be leading the Silver Ferns in the upcoming Taini Jamison Series against South Africa.

Netball NZ stated that talks with Taurua and the Silver Ferns management team regarding shifts to the Silver Ferns High Performance programme are still ongoing.

Taurua has built a reputation for enforcing rigorous fitness standards and has previously excluded players who did not meet them.

“However, we haven’t been able to arrive at a resolution that satisfies all parties in the timeframe leading up to the Taini Jamison Series,” the statement indicated.

“Under these circumstances, Netball NZ has chosen to stand Dame Noeline down for the forthcoming Taini Jamison Series.”

Yvette McCausland-Durie has been appointed as the Silver Ferns coach for the Taini Jamison Series, with Liana Leota taking on the role of assistant coach in the interim.

Netball NZ chair Matt Whineray expressed optimism for a resolution, stating, “We have had an extensive collaboration with Dame Noeline, and her track record with successive Silver Ferns teams is commendable.”

“For now, though, our focus must be on assisting the players with the immediate task of facing South Africa,” Whineray said.

“From today, Yvette McCausland-Durie will serve as the coach of the Silver Ferns for the Taini Jamison Series, backed by Liana Leota as her assistant.”

“We acknowledge that there will be inquiries regarding these developments, but we are unable to provide any further comments at this moment.”

The Silver Ferns’ matches against South Africa are scheduled to take place in Auckland, Napier, and Invercargill from September 21 to 28.

This decision compounds a tough period for the Silver Ferns, as captain Ameliaranne Ekenasio has also opted out of the 2025 international season.

Last month, Ekenasio announced her intention to step back from the national team after more than ten years competing at the highest level.

Having captained the side since 2021 and returning to the leadership role after the birth of her second child, she has racked up 79 caps for the Silver Ferns.

Taurua has been at the helm of the Silver Ferns since 2018.

The choice to suspend Taurua is particularly unexpected as she had her contract renewed just last year, with sights set on the 2027 Netball World Cup.

At that time, she notably stressed the necessity for New Zealand netball to challenge itself, enhance performance, and enforce stricter accountability across players, management, and herself.

“We must push ourselves; it appears everyone else is advancing while we are lagging behind,” Taurua expressed at the time.

She also noted that her new contract was intended to provide “protection for both parties” and to secure a promising future for the Silver Ferns.

In her comments, Taurua highlighted the need to cultivate a foundation of world-class athletes, mentioning “there’s a significant gap at present in what needs to transpire.”

“It’s about enforcing a stricter approach to accountability and responsibility—not just for the athletes, but also management and myself. We need to ensure we follow through on our commitments and drive this forward,” she concluded.

Netball NZ maintains that the relationship between Taurua and the players has not entirely broken down.