Rachel Bryant Joins Blaze Contract List | 24/25 First Round Announcement

Wellington's 2023/24 U19 Women’s Captain Rachel Bryant has been awarded her first professional contract offer as the first round of domestic women’s contract offers are revealed today.

In the first round of domestic contracts for the women's team, 12 contracts have been announced today, with 11 belonging to returning players from the 2023/24 list that saw the team win the Dream11 Super Smash and place 2nd in the HBJ Shield.

Bryant, who plays her club cricket with Upper Hutt, has one Blaze appearance to her name, debuting in the 2022/23 summer for the Blaze during the HBJ Shield One Day competition. The 19-year-old is a promising spin bowler and has been a part of the Blaze’s wider training squad for the last couple of summers, making her well-acquainted with the team.

As well as the four contracted WHITE FERNS (Melie Kerr, Jess Kerr, Georgia Plimmer, Sophie Devine), Wellington’s group includes plenty of top-level experience, with the likes of Leigh Kasperek, Rebecca Burns, and Jess McFadyen having received national caps.

The Blaze’s stable core has been a strength of the team, one which will again hope to be amongst the best in the country during the domestic summer.

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Head Coach Lance Dry knows his side well and is expecting more top results in 2024/25.

“I’m very happy with the squad we’ve assembled,” said Dry.

“We have a familiar look with a strong blend of seasoned players and emerging talent from Wellington’s system. It’s an exciting mix that we believe will drive the team forward as we look forward to another big home summer.”

The Blaze have retained their championship-winning lineup from 2023/24, with key contributors on both side of the ball returning for another year.

With another year of stability in the contracted group, the Blaze will be looking to build on a winning culture that has seen them lift trophies in each of the last three summers.

Having received their first contracts last year, allrounder Hannah Francis and bowler Phoenix Williams are back with the group, looking to build on their first professional summers last year.

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Dee Doughty announced her retirement last week and is not included in the twelve contract offers given today.

The Blaze’s 13th contract will be announced shortly, rounding out the contracted group for Wellington for 2024/25.

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Wellington’s Contracted WHITE FERNS are:

- Melie Kerr

- Jess Kerr

- Georgia Plimmer

- Sophie Devine

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The 2024/25 First-Round Contracts for the Wellington Blaze are:

• Antonia Hamilton

• Caitlin King

• Hannah Francis

• Jess McFadyen

• Kate Chandler

• Leigh Kasperek

• Tash Codyre

• Nicole Baird

• Phoenix Williams

• Rachel Bryant

• Rebecca Burns

• Xara Jetly

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