Taylor lands shock SA trip

NAOMI TAYLOR has been invited on an England under-21 tour to South Africa. The Nerine and Guernsey star, who is now based in Bath and will not turn 18 until halfway through the tour, has been given the chance to impress the national coaches ahead of next summer's World Youth Cup in Florida on the two- week trip which departs on 24 August.

She is part of a 14-strong playing party which includes girls who have already made the national squad.

The tour leader is former national team coach Lyn Gunson.

'I still cant' really believe it. It is slowly sinking in, but I'm so happy,' said taylor yesterday.

'It's going to be wicked experience and I am just grateful to be given the opportunity. Chances like this don't come along all the time and I'm just going to make the most of it,'

'It is a fabulous opportunity,' said her Nerine coach Gill Queripel, who also brought Taylor up through her local academy before she left for the UK.

'It is a very important tour. This is where she stamps her mark ahead of the World Youth Cup.

Although Taylor made an extremely impressive inter-insular debut at goal-defence this year, being 5ft 11in. she is not considered tall enough for the circle nationally.

Therefore, she will be playing wing-defence or centre in South Africa.

Queripel believes such recognition says much for Taylor's strength of character.

'When, last year, she was the last one to be dropped from the England under-19 squad she was devastated,' she said.

'She could have gone off and licked her wounds and shied away from it all, but instead she came out fighting and proved she is good enough.

'All her hard work has paid off.'

Taylor said it made getting up at half six every morning for training worth it: 'If you want to play and compete at the top level you have to be prepared to take the knocks.'