UK contract 'best of both worlds'

Stacey Peeters.
Stacey Peeters.
Stacey Peeters has picked up a contract to play in netball’s UK Superleague.

The 24-year-old midcourter, who has left the Southern Steel in order to travel overseas, will take the court for the Celtic Dragons, based in Cardiff, Wales.

Having initially been unsure whether she would play during her OE, she was thrilled to be given the chance to do so.

"I felt like it was my time to go out and see the world," she said.

"But in saying that, I wasn’t quite finished with netball and still enjoy that team environment. This gives me the best of both worlds."

She would be coached by Trish Wilcox, who had previously worked in New Zealand as the community manager for Northern Netball Zone and now coaches the Wales national team.

"I’m really excited to link up with the Celtic Dragons and play in the Superleague," Peeters said.

"After chatting with the coach, I feel like I’m going to a team with the same values as the Steel and that makes it a little less daunting."

Seeing young Steel players Te Paea Selby-Rickit, Jane Watson, Gina Crampton and Storm Purvis make their way into the New Zealand team had left its mark on Peeters, though.

"I’m watching our Steel girls do so well in the [Silver] Ferns and I’ll be honest and say that aspiration is still there.

"For me, this move is about getting game time under my belt and continuing to evolve my own game and I think I will definitely come back hungry for more.

"I need to tick off my desire to travel first so I can focus on those goals. I’m a proud Gore girl at heart but there is so much to see in the world and I’m just hibernating in this one small spot in little old New Zealand. I’m excited to see more of what’s out there."

Superleague would expand to 10 teams this year,  but remain semi-professional.

That meant early morning or evening training sessions to account for players’ work commitments.

"That’s one element that will be different. I’ll be going from training 12 or 14 times a week here at Steel to maybe six over there."

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