South African netball has said goodbye to one of its experienced defenders, with Shadine van der Merwe announcing her retirement from international netball after 77 appearances for the Proteas.
Van der Merwe made her senior international debut in 2015 and went on to represent South Africa at two Netball World Cups and two Commonwealth Games. She was also part of the Proteas squad at the 2023 Netball World Cup in Cape Town.
Her journey was not without setbacks. After making her international debut, she suffered an ACL injury and faced a difficult period trying to regain her place in the national team. She eventually returned to the Proteas and established herself as an important defensive player.
Van der Merwe described the decision to step away from international netball as one of the hardest decisions she has made, but believes there is exciting young talent coming through who now have an opportunity to represent South Africa.
Although her Proteas chapter has closed, her playing career continues with Loughborough Lightning, while she has also expressed an interest in coaching.
A new chapter
After 77 international appearances, Van der Merwe leaves behind a career filled with major tournaments, challenges and memorable moments in the green and gold.
The question now is: who will step up to fill the experienced defender’s place in the Proteas setup?
This gives you a stronger “legacy + what next for the Proteas?” angle for the sports blog.