Taumaunu to coach Silver Ferns

Waimarama Taumaunu has been appointed New Zealand's netball coach for the next four years.

Once Ruth Aitken had announced her intention to resign, Taumaunu was the heavy favourite to secure the position.

Netball NZ chief executive Raelene Castle said: "Waimarama will bring a huge amount of experience, dedication and passion into her new role as Silver Ferns head coach and we believe she is the best person to take the team forward."

The former New Zealand captain was a world championship winning in 19877 and led the side from 1989-91. She is the ninth national coach since the sport went international in 1938.

Taumaunu said: "This is such an honour and I am determined to take the Silver Ferns to the next level and would like to acknowledge the amazing record and legacy left by coach Ruth Aitken."

Taumaunu has an impressive pedigree in the sport having played at international level for 10 years from 1981-91. She had two stints as assistant coach to the national team and spent five years in England as national performance director of All England Netball and also as assistant coach to the England team.

At an administrative level she managed the CoachForce programme for Sport and Recreation New Zealand and in the forerunner to SPARC she developed coaching and Maori sport for the Hillary Commission.

Taumaunu will take up her position immediately with the three-Test series against Australia as Aitken is unavailable for family reasons. New Zealand play Australia in Perth on October 23, in Adelaide on October 26 and in Melbourne on October 30.