Sport

de Bruin to lead Stars

13:08 pm on 23 February 2017

Former Silver Fern defender Leana de Bruin will captain the Northern Stars in the inaugural season of the New Zealand ANZ Premiership.

Magic defender Leana de Bruin. Photo: Photosport

The 39-year-old, who retired from international netball last year, will lead the Stars which features a line up including Silver Ferns midcourter Kayla Cullen and shooter Malia Vaka.

Senior midcourter Courtney Tairi will support de Bruin as vice captain.

de Bruin said she confided in her teammates before making the decision to lead the young side.

"Although it may be expected, you don't know for sure how the other players feel" she said, "obviously I'm not getting any younger and Julie (coach Julie Hoornweg) may have wanted to look to the future, so it's a real privilege."

The Northern Stars are the second Auckland-based team, alongside the Mystics, in the New Zealand competition.

The ANZ Premiership starts on March 26.

-RNZ