Comets’ Sotutu called up for Northern Stars

Promising midcourter Teuila Sotutu has been added to the Northern Stars’ roster as a pre-season training partner for the upcoming ANZ Premiership season.

The 19-year-old replaces Tori Kolose, who has joined the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic’s full-time squad as an injury replacement.

Sotutu has been in the Northern Comets system and was named in the New Zealand under-21s squad ahead of this year’s World Youth Cup.

She is the sister of All Blacks and Blues loose forward Hoskins Sotutu, while her father Waisake played rugby for Fiji, the Blues and Crusaders.

Stars coach Kiri Wills says she’s looking forward to seeing what Sotutu makes of the opportunity.

‘‘She has got some serious pace and has already shown us she can be a handful to defend. She has lovely touches on the feed into the shooters,’’ Wills said. ‘‘By pre-season at O¯ taki she will have settled right into our squad.

‘‘I am looking forward to Teuila and Greer Sinclair putting a stake in the ground and showing the NZU21 selectors what they are capable of.’’

A space opened up for Sotutu after the Magic’s Asher Grapes ruptured her ACL in December, which led to Kolose’s call up. Wills said Kolose deserved her shot at regular court time this season.

‘‘All the training partners we have want to be contracted players, either as a replacement in teams if they aren’t picked straight up at contracting time,’’ she said. ‘‘We are really pleased for Tori that she has got her opportunity with the Magic.

‘‘She has worked incredibly hard over the off-season attending every team session that we had.’’

■ Meanwhile, the Southern Steel’s English shooting recruit George Fisher has confirmed entry to New Zealand for the 2021 ANZ Premiership.

Immigration NZ approved Fisher’s visa application, enabling her to travel from England in mid-March to her new base in Invercargill.