FORMER Worcester Reds ace Rachel Sweet has joined the city’s new Vitality Netball Superleague outfit Severn Stars.

Sweet played in the competition for Loughborough Lightning last year, grew up in Worcester and has also represented the county.

The 31-year-old defensive linchpin is among five new arrivals at Stars, a joint franchise between the University of Worcester and the University of Gloucestershire.

Head coach Mo’onia Gerrard has snapped up international players Afeisha Noel, from Trinidad and Tobago, and goalkeeper Josie Janz-Dawson, from Australia.

University of Worcester student Iona Darroch and Superleague player Lucy Richardson, 22, complete the line-up for Stars, who begin their debut campaign in February.

Sweet, from Bromsgrove, said: "I'm really excited to be playing for Severn Stars and representing my home county through this new franchise.

“Everyone is extremely motivated and I can't wait to be part of what is set to be a great start to an amazing journey for the franchise."

Gerrard said: “Rachel, being a Worcester local, has earned her spot by her sheer determination and experience as a leader for the Reds, which will help steer the Stars in the right direction.”

Twenty-eight-year-old goalkeeper Janz-Dawson, from Perth, has played with West Coast Fever in the ANZ Championship, the premier netball league for Australia and New Zealand, for the last nine years.

Noel, 30, has been a fixture of her national team since 2011 and played in the Netball World Cup last year and Commonwealth Games in 2013.

Darroch, 18, from Handforth in Cheshire, is in her first year studying illustration at the University of Worcester.

She was previously in the Manchester Thunder Netball Performance League squad and part of the England Under 21s long squad.

Richardson has been at Superleague side Yorkshire Jets since 2012, winning two BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) championships with Leeds Beckett University.

Gerrard said: “We have secured some great experienced players for the Severn Stars roster for 2017. They have the right attitude to build this club in the right direction.

“Josie having played for West Coast Fever in the ANZ championship for eight plus years will help strengthen the Stars team on and off the court, followed by Afeisha who was very strong in her World Cup campaign for Trinidad & Tobago in 2015.”

Gerrard added: “Lucy is a fierce competitor and her positive attitude is infectious.

“Iona is an up-and-coming England under 21s prospect, has some great skills and is one to watch in the future.”

Severn Stars are among a number of new franchises, including Scottish Sirens and Wasps, in an expanded 10-franchise Vitality Superleague in 2017.