Article | Fijivillage Archives

The Fiji Pearls preparations for the Netball World Cup has received a huge boost as ten players will feature in an exhibition match with the Suncorp Super Netball League players from Netball Australia.

Unaisi Rauluni, Maliana Rusivakula, Pearls captain Alisi Naqiri, Avelina Navue and Josephine Nailumu will be playing in Team One with the Sunshine Coast Lightning players.

The Team Two will see Afa Rusivakula, Jimaima Kete, Ema Mualuvu, Talei Waqanabete and Reama Verekauta to join the Adelaide Thunderbirds players.

This Fiji Tour is funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in partnership with Netball Australia.

They will bring together some of the league's elite with the Fiji Pearls players for an exhibition match.

Netball Fiji CEO, Vivian Koster, says they are privileged to have such an opportunity not only for fun-filled activities for netball enthusiasts but also the high performance workshops for athletes and umpires.

In an effort to promote netball excellence and build linkages with the Pacific under the PacificAus Sports Program, SSN players will immerse themselves in a packed week of activities in Fiji.

Their schedule includes school and community clinics, high performance workshops and training with the Fiji Pearls and Fiji’s Under 21.

An exhibition match scheduled for this Saturday, August 13 will be opened first with a curtain raiser between the Fijian men's teams.

The following exhibition match will feature the Lightning and Thunderbirds athletes who will each be joined by five Fiji Pearls members to make up their squads.

TEAM ONE - Sunshine Coast Lightning/Fiji Peals

Lightning - Maddison Hinchliffe

Lightning - Tara Hinchliffe

Lightning - Reilley Batcheldor

Lightning - Laura Scherian

Lightning - Annie Miller

Pearls - Unaisi Rauluni

Pearls - Maliana Rusivakula

Pearls - Alisi Naqiri

Pearls - Avelina Navue

Pearls - Josephine Nailumu

TEAM TWO - Adelaide Thunderbirds/Fijian Peals