Gilbert to play for NZ | Rotorua Sport | Surfing, Rugby, Soccer, Football, Cricket in Rotorua

Rotorua's Jane Gilbert has been named in the New Zealand petanque team to play at the Rotorua-hosted Oceania Championships in February.

Gilbert, who represented New Zealand at the 2002 championships in New Caledonia with husband Andy, told The Daily Post she was delighted to be able to don the black and whites again.

"To put on the Silver Fern is really quite special, but I think it will be tough next year - there will be no easy games," she said.

Next year's Oceania Championships will be played at Rotorua's Government Garden from February 3-6.

Gilbert, the Rotorua Library Manager, will play in the singles, doubles and triples events and predicts the biggest competition will come from petanque strongholds Tahiti and New Caledonia.

However, she said recent performances by her Kiwi teammates, indicated New Zealand was becoming a force on the international stage.

"We seem to be getting stronger and stronger and it will be interesting to see if playing on homesoil will make a difference."

As part of her build-up for the four-day event, Gilbert and a small contingent of New Zealand players left for Melbourne today to compete in tournaments in Avoca and Hanging Rock.

She said it was vital to gain more international experience and discover more about her transtasman rivals.

"Beating the Aussies is really very important," she said.

For a full team list see today's Daily Post