​​Four Maties Netball players have been selected for the South African U/21 team to play in a test series against Wales this weekend.

The U/21 teams' matches will serve as curtain-raisers for the Proteas' matches against Wales on 17, 18 and 19 June.

Charmaine Baard, Jo Prins, Stephanie Brandt and Sasha-Lee Petersen were included in the team.

These players were also members of the Southern Stings team that participated in the Brutal Fruit Netball Premier League. The team finished third and Matie players were named player of the match several times. A total of 12 Maties were included in the Southern Stings group.

Baard was also included in the extended training squad for the senior Proteas and said it was an honour to be selected for this group.

"I feel blessed that I had the opportunity to train with the best players in the country," she said.

Although she wasn't chosen for the final team she still regards it as a valuable learning experience.

Thanks to her involvement with Maties Netball​​, the Cape Winelands team, the Southern Stings, the national senior training squad and the national U/21 squad she had many opportunities to grow and develop as a player.

A significant number of Maties were included in various Cape Winelands teams.

Just more than two weeks after the test series against Wales, Maties' U/21 players will join their Maties team mates to participate in the USSA tournament. This tournament will be hosted by the University of Cape Town from 4-8 July.

One of the team's senior players, Juline Rossouw, will miss this tournament as she was included in the University Sports South Africa (USSA) team for the World University Netball Championships (WUNC) to be held in Miami in July.

Rossouw, an Education student in her fourth year, is very excited about and grateful for this opportunity.

Maties Netball's consistent improvement over the past few years has been ascribed to, among other things, improved fitness levels, superb coaching and support, and the level of experience among the existing players.

Coach Christine Behan receives assistance from Dr Sherylle Calder of EyeGym who's been involved with Maties Netball since 2014. The netball club is also sponsored by EyeGym this year. Former Proteas coach Elize Kotzé joined the coaching team in 2016.

"Maties Netball has been well represented in regional, provincial and national teams this year and we are looking forward to the university competitions that lie ahead," says Karen Swart, sport manager of Maties Netball.

The Varsity Netball tournament starts on 5 September.​