All Golds v Oxford KPL1 Shield 2016 Final

take up her role for preseason
training soon after.”
Having got a home venue
in place, a head coach to
oversee matters on the court,
the challenge now is to build
a squad to compete. For a
franchise setting out on a
journey at the top level of
the game it will be a tough
one but one that will present
opportunities for ambitious
players.
talented players and they both
also have associations with
elite teams from other sports,
including the University of
Gloucestershire’s All Golds
Rugby League Club and the
Worcester Wolves British
Basketball League team.
Home games are due to be
played initially at the University
of Worcester Arena, before
they are shared once new
facilities at the University of
Gloucestershire’s Oxstalls
campus in Gloucester are
ready.
The first major signing for
the Stars is former Australian
Diamonds netball sensation,
Mo’onia Gerrard as Head
Coach.
Donovan said: “We are
absolutely thrilled to be able to
announce that Mo’onia will be
the Severn Stars’ Head Coach
and believe it really sends
out a clear message about
our ambitions to succeed in
netball’s top flight, whilst also
bringing an ambassador to our
local netball communities.”
During a stellar career, Gerrard
played over 182 national league
games for the New South
Wales Swifts and the Adelaide
Thunderbirds. She forged a
reputation second to none as
a reliable, uncompromising
defender playing in 68 test
matches for Australia winning
the 2007 Netball World Cup
and a silver medal in the 2010
Commonwealth Games in
Delhi.
As a coach, she has worked
with some of the finest young
Australian talent as she helps
nurture the next generation of
Australian internationals.
Gerrard said: “Being appointed
the Severn Stars Head Coach
in 2017 comes with great
responsibility to breed and
develop the South West/
Midlands players in England.
It’s also exciting for me to get
amongst the English culture
and migrate my Australian
approach to the England
style.”
University of Gloucestershire’s
Anita Navin, Severn Stars
Director of Netball
commented: “Mo’onia
shares our vision to build a
competitive squad but also
to ensure the next generation
of England players are given
opportunities and a quality
coaching experience.
“Mo’onia and her family are
moving to the South West of
England in August and she will
Navin admits the challenge
will be getting the blend right
between talent from abroad,
established and emerging
England players and talented
local youngsters.
“I really want to make sure
we don’t just bring players to
the area. We want to grow
the young talent and there is
a pretty good base of 17/18
year-old players in the area,”
Navin told Sky Sports.
“So we have committed to
saying we will use imports
if we need them but initially
we want to know what
players are coming to us from
England and who can play for
their country - whether they
are U19 or U21.”
The first game will be played
in February and the Stars
face a busy schedule as they
work towards building a
playing and coaching team to
compete in the Superleague.
The Severn Stars soon hope
to be able to announce dates
for trials for those players
who would like to join the
2017 campaign. Follow them
on Twitter @SevernStars or
Facebook for all of the latest
news about trials, player
signings and events.
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