Livewire Auckland wing defence Josie Yelas (nee Hickey) was one of a select few to play all three Tests for the Silver Ferns in the 1948 series against Australia.

For costs reasons, the 1948 team was selected largely on a regional basis, the well-performed Hickey making the cut for the Dunedin, New Plymouth and Auckland hosted Tests.

The series which was being played under the more universal seven-a-side rules – New Zealand was still immersed in the nine-a-side version at the time – weighed heavily against the Silver Ferns who went on to lose 3-0.