Celtic Flames Add Two Kiwi Players For Super Club Challenge

Celtic Flames, the newly-formed Super Club netball team from Wales, have added two New Zealand internationals to their line-up.

Anna Thompson and Temalisi Fakahokotau have joined the Wales players in the Flames squad for the inaugural International Super Cup competition.

Flames play their first fixture against Kiwi team Te Wananga o Raukawa Pulse this Sunday (July 2).

They also take on New Zealand’s club SkyCity Mystics and Fijian team Marama Vou in group matches.

Clubs from the host country, Wales, Australia, South Africa, Fiji plus Trinidad and Tobago compete in the eight-team competition in New Zealand.

Thompson, 31, and 22-year-old Fakahokotau, who both play for Silvermoon Tactix in New Zealand, join eight players from the UK Superleague team Celtic Dragons plus Chelsea Lewis and Nia Jones.

Thompson covers all three attacking positions, while Fakahokotau plays goal-keeper or goal-defence.

“The team are excited to have Anna and Temalisi complete our squad,” said head coach Trish Wilcox. “Both players bring international and ANZ experience to the team which will complement the Celtic Flames squad.

“I am looking forward to working with Anna and Temalisi to utilise their strengths within the team as we challenge the opposition from across the globe.”

Thompson made her Silver Ferns debut in 2009 after stepping up from the NWYC gold-medal winning New Zealand u-21 team. The versatile Thompson covers WA, GA and GS and adds experience for Flames.

Fakahokotau, an athletic and formidable defender, made her for the Silver Ferns in 2014 and joined Tactix this year following three seasons with the Northern Mystics.

The Super Club event is being played at the 1,662 seat capacity Trafalgar Centre in Nelson, New Zealand and all games will be broadcast live on SKY Sport 4.

The eight teams competing are Southern Steel, Central Pulse, Northern Mystics (all New Zealand), New South Wales Institute of Sport (Australia), Gauteng Jaguars (South Africa), Celtic Flames (Wales), University of Trinidad and Tobago (Trinidad and Tobago) and Marama Vou (Fiji).

The three group matches for Flames are this Sunday v Te Wananga o Raukawa Central Pulse (2pm local time, 1am BST); Monday, July 3 v Marama Vou (4.50pm local time, 3.50am BST); Wednesday, July 5 v SkyCity Mystics (6.40pm local time, 5.40am BST).

Celtic Flames squad: Anna Thompson, Temalisi Fakahokotau, Suzy Drane (supported by MSG Tours), Bethan Dyke (supported by Torfaen Leisure Trust), Clare Jones (supported by TPHS Limited), Kyra Jones (supported by Glamorgan Telecom), Nia Jones (supported by Chester Chain), Chelsea Lewis (supported by Islwyn Pugh Construction/GW Flooring Contract Services), Kelly Morgan (supported by Andy Lamb Media), Lois Rideout (supported by Balance Fitness), Eleanor Roberts (supported by Fostering Matters), Georgia Rowe (supported by Miller Medical Supplies).

Flames management team includes head coach Trish Wilcox (supported by Pro Steel Engineering), assistant coach Mel Tuckwell (supported by USW Sport) and team manager Donna Crossman (supported by Falconry Services Ltd).