Eight home-grown stars including Scotland captain Brownie on roster
Friday 21 October 2016 06:25, UK
Jamaican internationals Carla Borrego and Althea Byfield are joined by New Zealand superstar Ellen Halpenny as the Sirens announce their roster for the 2017 Vitality Superleague season.
The Sirens, based in Scotland, are one of three new franchises for the new 10-team Superleague season and have vowed to take the competition by storm with Friday's announcement confirming their intentions.
Led by head coach Gail Parata and Franchise Director Karen McElveen, the Sirens have combined a squad of international and home grown recruits that will play at the new £113m Emirates Arena in Galgow and will be supported by the University of the West of Scotland.
The arrival of three world-class netballers that will capture the headlines, but there is also the inclusion of some of Scotland's brightest young talents as well as experienced internationals.
We have worked hard to bring together this amazing team of players and back room staff. I'd like to thank my team and our sponsors for their support.<p>Sirens are here, ready for action and most definitely ready to change the game, not just for netball, for women's sport as a whole.<p>We are so looking forward to the start of the season so we can show just what this team is made of.
Shooter Borrego arrives after a career in the ANZ Championship with the Adelaide Thunderbirds. Having represented Jamaica at the 2003 World Championship, she moved to America to play basketball before returning to forge a hugely successful career in the hugely competitive ANZ.
Leading the defensive team is Byfield who has amassed 112 caps for Jamaica, winning bronze medals at the 2003 and 2007 World Championships while also representing her country at basketball.
Completing the international trio of arrivals is Halpenny. The New Zealand international goal shooter/attack has played for Canterbury Tactix and Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in the ANZ Championship.
Rachel Forbes, a Scotland international, returns from Australia to take her place as a Siren and the mid-court includes Caroline O'Hanlon from Northern Ireland.
Scotland international captain Claire Brownie will lead the mid-court where she is joined by Northern Ireland international Caroline O'Hanlon and Brisbane-born Scotland international Rachel Forbes.
Professor Craig Mahoney, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of University of the West of Scotland, said: "The introduction of the Sirens franchise to the Vitality Netball Superleague is a hugely important development not just for netball but for sport, especially women's sport, across Scotland.
"We are absolutely delighted that UWS will be playing such an important role in supporting this development and in creating success for the team over the coming seasons.
"The Sirens comprise an incredible group of athletes who I am sure will make a huge impact on the league when it gets underway in February. We share the team's vision of excellence and ambition to establish Scottish netball as world leading."
2017 Sirens squad - Savannah Antoine, Carla Borrego, Claire Brownie, Althea Byfield, Rachel Forbes, Lynsey Gallagher, Bethan Goodwin, Ellen Halpenny, Nicola McCleery, Fiona Moore-McGrath, Caroline O'Hanlon, Lauren Tait.
