The nuggety centre forward replaces KFC Queensland Breakers’ Sarah Mills, who has been diagnosed with glandular fever.

The Stingers play tournaments in Rome and Athens as part of their Olympic Games tune-up before returning to compete in three-month National Water Polo League.

Aussie Stingers team for European tour named
Sydney (January 17).—
Olympic Games selection will be made easier following a European tour by the Aussie Stingers starting next Thursday. The women’s water polo team, fresh from a 3-0 drubbing of world champion United States of America in home waters, will contest two tournaments — one in Rome and the other in Athens.

In Rome on January 29-31, the Stingers will play Italy, Greece and Netherlands before flying to Athens to contest the Thetis Cup against the same teams plus possibly Russia on February 1-3.

The team will return home on February 7 following a three-day training camp with Greece with all players joining their national league teams for a shortened season ending on April 12.

The squad will then be trimmed to about 16 players with the busy pre-Olympics international programme including World League matches in May and June and training and tournaments in July before departing for Beijing.

The final team selection will be made in late June after the World League Super Finals.

European tour team:
Goalkeepers: Victoria Brown (Victorian Tigers); Alicia McCormack (Cronulla Sharks).
Centre forwards/backs: Gemma Beadsworth (Fremantle Marlins); Mia Santoromito, Erin Douglass (Cronulla Sharks); Bronwen Knox (KFC Queensland Breakers); Nikita Cuffe, Taniele Gofers (Sydney University Lions).
Counter-attackers/drivers/shooters: Sophie Smith, Melissa Rippon (Brisbane Barracudas); Jenna Santoromito, Patrice O'Neill (Cronulla Sharks); Rebecca Rippon (Balmain Tigers); Sarah Mills, Amy Hetzel, Suzie Fraser (KFC Breakers).
Staff: Head coach, Greg McFadden; assistant coach, Ryan Moar; assistant coach/manager, Andrew Yanitsas; physiotherapist, Danealle Lilley; referee, Noel Harrod.