Van der Merwe back to bolster Proteas defence ahead of Australasia tour

Shadine van der Merwe’s return to the Spar Proteas’ defense boosts the team as they prepare for the 2025-26 international season.

The former Manchester Thunder star last represented South Africa during the 2023 Netball World Cup. Following that, she missed out on former Proteas coach Norma Plummer’s final matches with the senior team at the end of 2023.

This upcoming season marks Van der Merwe’s first appearance under coach Jenny van Dyk, who assumed leadership in February 2024. During a selection camp of 30 players, Sasha caught the attention of coaches Van Dyk, Zanele Mdodana, and the selection panel.

The Proteas will begin the international season with a trip to Australasia for two three-test series. They will first face the Silver Ferns from 21 to 28 September in Auckland before heading to Australia to face the 12-time world champions from 4 to 12 October in Bendigo, Wollongong, and Adelaide.

Van der Merwe says she is happy to be back in the national lineup, however, she understands that performance will keep her in the team.

“It is such a privilege and honour to get the opportunity to represent my country. I know I have to work hard. I was so grateful to get the call for the trials. I am so ready to play my best netball, to give my best performances and the best version of me for my country, family, and friends,” says van der Merwe.

Although this is the defender’s first time in the Proteas under van Dyk, the two are no strangers. Van Dyk was the wing defender’s mentor at the University of Pretoria as well as the Gauteng Jaguars, where they won two Brutal Fruit Netball League titles (later named the Telkom Netball League) together.

'SUPER EXCITED'

The Loughborough Lightning player says she is happy to be reunited with her coach. 

“I am super excited, the fact that I get the opportunity to work with coach Jenny and coach Zanele as well. They are both so clever and intelligent with the netball knowledge. Being able to be part of that and being able to learn from them makes me so excited because you are never too old to learn. It can add so much value and more to my game as well. I am excited to work with both of them. They are both successful coaches. It is my first camp, but I can see how driven they are,” she says.

Van der Merwe is one of the few changes made to the Proteas squad that represented South Africa in the last international season, including the Vitality Netball Nations Cup, Margaret Beckford Sunshine Series, and the Africa Netball Cup.

Entle Futshane, Nozipho Ntshangase, and Juanita van Tonder all received their first national call-ups and will likely make their debuts during the test series or the Africa Netball Cup, or the Diamond Challenge later in the year. However, the coaches say the makeup of the squad could also be determined by the upcoming Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar.

LACKING DEPTH DUE TO ABSENCES

Veteran defender and vice-captain Karla Pretorius is still unavailable for selection this season, while Boitumelo Mahloko is out injured, with Syntiche Kabuya unavailable due to personal reasons. Ine-Mari Venter, Ané Retief, and Jeante Strydom will also miss out on the tours to Australia and New Zealand.

“We are well aware we don’t have the depth we envision in our one or two key positions yet, but we have versatile players in our core group that can get the job done for this tour. We have a plan in place to create the depth we need afterwards,” says van Dyk.

Making her way back into the international scene after a two-year absence excites the 2025 Netball Super League silver medallist. The defender reckons this is also a good start for the national team to prepare for the upcoming international competitions, the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney, Australia. Van der Merwe says playing against the best in the world will sharpen them for what is ahead.

“Being able to be part of that international competitiveness, to play against the best in the world. That will be a good opportunity for us to see how to measure ourselves up. It all starts at training, and for such a young group at the moment, to be able to push and to be the best in the world, we have to compete against the best. For us, it is such a good opportunity to emerge and showcase our abilities and talents against the best in the world. To get that exposure on an international level with world-class netball is just exciting because this is the first step for us in preparing for the upcoming Commonwealth Games and the World Cup. This time we have together is very important,” says van der Merwe.

PROTEAS SQUAD:

Khanyisa Chawane (C), Nicholé Breedt, Entle Futshane, Kamogelo Maseko, Tarle Mathe, Owethu Ngubane, Refiloe Nketsa, Nozipho Ntshangase, Nicola Smith, Rolene Streutker, Elmeré van der Berg, Shadine van der Merwe, Juanita van Tonder, Jamie van Wyk, Sanmarie Visser