The 20-year-old pharmacy student will switch her white coat for a Steel bib and the pharmacy lab for the netball court as she balances her sporting commitments and her degree next year.
The New Zealand under-21 midcourter has signed a one-year deal with the Steel. She earned that right following some strong performances for Otago in the national championships.
The athletic centre helped her adopted province reach the final and was named in the tournament team. Her efforts during the campaign did not go unnoticed by Steel co-coaches Janine Southby and Natalie Avellino and late last month she was offered a spot in the Steel, which seemed like a dream come true.
Francois was dead keen to take the opportunity but also worried about how she was going to cope with the workload.
"It is my final year at university next year and I don't want to just give it all up now," Francois said.
Francois sat two exams while she was in the North Island with the New Zealand under-21 team earlier this year and knows only too well how hard it can be splitting your time between netball and study.
"It was definitely a hard balancing act. It worked out because my exams were on the travelling days. Everyone else was chilling out and I went and did my exams and then it was done and I could focus on the next game."
Francois is going to be even busier next year. Between training and travelling and her studies there will not me much time left.
"It is going to be a push but it is definitely doable. I'll have to be really organised and communicate with everyone and make sure I don't miss too much."
Her average day already involves morning classes, midday training, back to class or the library in the afternoon and more training and study in the evening.
Her goal is to learn as much as she can from the Steel's experienced players, soak in the atmosphere and "push for a starting position".
"That would be awesome but any court time I get I'll grasp with two hands and try and perform really well."
Francois is the 11th player to confirm her involvement with the Steel next year. She joins Otago team-mates Jodi Brown, Louise Thayer and Te Paea Selby-Rickit.
The other players are Wendy Frew, Donna Wilkins, Hayley Saunders, Courtney Tairi, Sheryl Scanlan, Ashleigh Smith and Demelza McCloud.
