The Samoa national under-21 netball team is the highest youth team of netball for Samoa and represents Samoa at the Netball World Youth Cup. It is controlled by the Samoa Netball Association.

History

In 2012 the team appointed Trish Wilcox as coach for the 2013 Youth World Championships.[1]

In September 2016 the team qualified for the 2017 Netball World Youth Cup in Gaborone, Botswana.[2] As preparation for the world cup the team also contested the Digicel Punjas International Youth Netball Series.[3] It announced its world cup team in May 2017[4] coming eleventh.[5]

In 2020 the Covid-19 pandemic forced cancellation of the Oceania qualifying tournament for the 2021 world cup, and Samoa qualified on the basis of its world ranking.[5] Head coach Frances Solia began "virtual trials" to select players.[5] In October 2020 it announced a 22-player "long squad" of potential players, from which the final 12-player squad would be selected.[6] The delay in the competition saw a new squad selected in January 2021.[7] The competition was subsequently cancelled due to the pandemic.[8][9]

Players

2021 Netball World Youth Cup long squad

Samoa roster
Players Coaches
Name Pos DOB Height Club Nat Caps
Alyssa Niko-Tuifao – College Rifles New Zealand
Ariana Luamanu 30/6/2002 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in) Boroondarra Express Australia
Ausrae Harrison – Coffs Harbour
Croshanlei Skipper-Lepou – Aotea College
Geraldine Taefu – St Mary's
Grace Fonoilaulii-Siaosi – Auckland Samoa
Grace Valele – Westside Saints
Heta Matautia – REOCO
Imelda Lolesio – Westlake
Jalani Moeono – United Soulz
Jennifer Brown – Curtin Hamersley Comets
Larafina Tanielu-Stowers GS, GK – Collegiate Samoa Samoa
Louisa Laiti – ROCKZ
Malia Seumanutafa – Southern Saints
Margean Asiata – United Soulz
Olivia Ropati – Shelly Park
Rumei Meredith – St Mary's
Rylee Schuster – St Mary's
Samantha Tuilaepa – Hyundai
Sayonara Alalatoa – Marist
Tamara Jane Anderson – Bay Bullets
Taumuasila Matautia – REOCO
Head coach
  • Vacant


Manager: Rosemarie Esera

Notes
  • (c) – Captain
  • (cc) – Co-captain
  • (vc) – Vice-captain
  • Injured or on maternity leave – Injury / maternity leave
  • (TRP) – Temporary Replacement Player
Player profiles: [ Team website] Last updated: 23 July 2022

References

  1. ^ "Sport: Netball Samoa appoint U21 coach". RNZ. 8 May 2012. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  2. ^ "Sport: Samoa seal final qualifying berth for netball's World Youth Cup". RNZ. 30 September 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  3. ^ Justine Mannan (9 January 2017). "United For A Cause". Fiji Sun. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  4. ^ "Samoa U 21 side for Netball World Youth Cup 2017 named". Loop Samoa. 15 May 2017. Retrieved 21 July 2022.
  5. ^ a b c "Virtual becomes reality for Samoa netball hopefuls". RNZ. 8 July 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  6. ^ Vaelei Von Dincklage (25 October 2020). "Samoa sets sights on Netball World Cup in Fiji". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  7. ^ Vaelei Von Dincklage (17 January 2021). "Netball Samoa selects U–21 Long Squad". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  8. ^ "International Netball Federation Announces Cancellation of Netball World Youth Cup 2021 due to Covid-19". World Netball. 19 March 2021. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  9. ^ Vaelei Von Dincklage (23 March 2021). "Netball Samoa saddened by Youth World Cup cancellation". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 23 July 2022.


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