[Darrell]

#1383063

I just saw that Kristiana Manu’a has been picked up as a top 10 player for Sunshine Coast Lightning, replacing Ava Black. The article shared by this website refers to her as the Samoan captain. I have her listed as a former Diamond, seeing she played two games for Australia during the 2016 Quad Series.

I note that in this year’s PacificAus Sports Netball Series, she was the captain of Samoa, who went on to win that competition. I also have her playing in the same series back in 2023 for Samoa.

I note that she was born in New Zealand—who wanted her to be a Silver Fern back in 2016 when she was playing for Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic—and moved to Australia, where she ended up representing.

Although she played for Australia in 2016, Netball New Zealand said she was eligible to be picked to play for them, and in 2022, I saw that she was a Fast5 Fern.

I wonder if other netball players have played for three nations as she has. I think at least one person has been a Diamond and a Rose, but I can’t think of who that is right now.

[Darrell]

#1383064

It was Chelsea Pitman. I just remembered she played for Australia then played for England.

[Ian Harkin]

#1383065

Cathrine Tuivaiti was the first. She played for Samoa, NZ, & Tonga.

Not only did Chelsea Pitman play for Australia and England, but believe it or not, she could have played for NZ too. She was eligible and before she ever played for England, she went to NZ to be with her then husband and discussed the possibility of playing for them, but her marriage broke down (thank goodness – he was awful) and not long after that is when she started playing for England.

[Author]

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