Lush's years of hard work acknowledged

Nic Lush has been named the New Zealand Indoor Netball ambassador after years of playing, administering and promoting the game.

Palmerston North's Lush was recently involved in a series with Australia in Christchurch. New Zealand won three matches, which were played with six players-per-side, but lost the three, seven-a-side tests.

In New Zealand, indoor netball is predominantly played with six players-per-side at representative tournaments, but Australia usually play with seven. When the teams meet they play both.

The World Cup has six-a-side and seven-a-side categories.

Lush also coaches the Olympic A1 women's side in the Manawatu Standard Premier Cup. They are joint-leaders in the competition.

Lush said the ambassador's position was a great opportunity for him.

"I mean I've been playing for so long, a lot of hard work put in behind the scenes. "It's gratifying ... to get acknowledged.

"You always do it for the love of the sport and the progress of the sport, so to get it is nice."

His wife, Angela Armstrong-Lush, who plays for Olympic, also plays indoor netball for New Zealand, for the mixed and women's teams.

Nic Lush's next big international assignment is the World Cup in South Africa in March next year.

HIGHLIGHTS

Played for New Zealand for 11 years

Most capped New Zealand player (59)

New Zealand men's team captain for six years

Most Valuable Player in men's grade 2008 World Cup

Most Valuable Player trans-Tasman men's grade 2009

Won eight national men's club titles

- © Fairfax NZ News