Temepara George
Encyclopedia
Temepara Anne George formerly Temepara Clark, is a New Zealand international netball
player. She was a member of the Silver Ferns
national squad in 1996, and from 2000–2011. George retired from international duties after the 2011 World Netball Championships in Singapore. She continues to play domestic netball in the ANZ Championship
as captain of the Northern Mystics
.
for the league's inaugural year. In 1999, George transferred to cross-town rivals the Counties Manukau Cometz, under coach Ruth Aitken
. In 2000 she transferred again, this time to the Northland-based Northern Force
, where she continued playing until the end of the competition in 2007.
. The next several years saw George make her mark on the international circuit and cement her position in the Silver Ferns midcourt. She missed out on the Silver Ferns team for the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, but the following year was named in the team for the 2003 World Netball Championships in Kingston, Jamaica. New Zealand progressed to the final of the tournament, which they contested with Australia. During the final, George was sent off for three goals, but the Silver Ferns eventually defeated Australia by 47–44 to win the tournament. Her performance also earned her the Albie Pryor Memorial Sports Person of the Year at the Māori Sports Awards. George won another gold medal three years later at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
in Melbourne.
, who had accepted a contract with the North Queensland Cowboys
. George's absence from the Silver Ferns was widely believed to have decreased the team's chances at the upcoming World Championships in Auckland. New Zealand finished second at the 2007 World Championships, behind Australia.
With the start of a new netball competition in 2008, the ANZ Championship
, replacing the National Bank Cup, Temepara George considered signing with the Queensland Firebirds
while living in Queensland. She eventually turned down the Firebirds in favour of returning to New Zealand, and signed with the Auckland-based Northern Mystics
franchise.
That same year, Temepara George was a contestant on the New Zealand version of Dancing with the Stars
. George went on to win the 2008 show, partnered with Stefano Olivieri. In 2009 George appeared on the New Zealand travel program Intrepid Journeys
, travelling to Darjeeling and Sikkim
.
in Manchester, which the Silver Ferns won with a 32–27 victory over Jamaica in the final. George travelled to Delhi the following year for the 2010 Commonwealth Games
, winning gold with the Silver Ferns after an epic 66–64 gold medal playoff against Australia. Injury forced her out of the side for the three-test series against England in early 2011. She recovered in time for the start of the 2011 ANZ Championship season
. The Mystics had their best ever campaign in 2011, qualifying for their first finals series, before finishing runners-up in the grand final. George was recalled into the Silver Ferns for the 2011 World Championships in Singapore. The Silver Ferns progressed to the gold medal match against perennial rivals Australia, and in another overtime match New Zealand were defeated 58–57.
Netball
Netball is a ball sport played between two teams of seven players. Its development, derived from early versions of basketball, began in England in the 1890s. By 1960 international playing rules had been standardised for the game, and the International Federation of Netball and Women's Basketball ...
player. She was a member of the Silver Ferns
Silver Ferns
The New Zealand national netball team, commonly known as the Silver Ferns, represent New Zealand in international netball. The team take their nickname from the Silver Tree Fern , which is an iconic emblem for many New Zealand sports teams. The Silver Ferns were formed in 1938 as a representative...
national squad in 1996, and from 2000–2011. George retired from international duties after the 2011 World Netball Championships in Singapore. She continues to play domestic netball in the ANZ Championship
ANZ Championship
The ANZ Championship is the pre-eminent netball league in the world. The competition is held annually between April and July, comprising 69 matches played over 17 weeks. It is contested by ten teams, five from Australia and five from New Zealand...
as captain of the Northern Mystics
Northern Mystics
The Northern Mystics are a New Zealand netball team based in Auckland that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The franchise was formed in 2007 as an amalgamation of two teams from the National Bank Cup – the Northern Force and the Auckland Diamonds – after the competition was...
.
Early career
George was spotted as a talent in netball early, being selected for the Silver Ferns squad in 1996. She took time off the following year with the birth of her second child, and subsequently continued with the New Zealand A team and Silver Ferns training squad. With the start of the Coca-Cola Cup in 1998, George signed with the Auckland DiamondsAuckland Diamonds
The Auckland Diamonds were a regional netball team which represented Auckland-Waitakere and Counties Manukau Netball in New Zealand's National Bank Cup...
for the league's inaugural year. In 1999, George transferred to cross-town rivals the Counties Manukau Cometz, under coach Ruth Aitken
Ruth Aitken
Ruth Ellina Aitken, ONZM is a New Zealand former international-level netball player and former head coach of the New Zealand national netball team, the Silver Ferns...
. In 2000 she transferred again, this time to the Northland-based Northern Force
Northern Force
The Northern Force were the northern-most team in Netball New Zealand's former premier competition - the National Bank Cup. For the 2008 ANZ Championship the Force merged with the Auckland Diamonds to create the Northern Mystics....
, where she continued playing until the end of the competition in 2007.
Silver Ferns debut
George was selected again for the Silver Ferns in 2000, and later that year made her debut against AustraliaAustralia national netball team
The Australia national netball team, commonly known as the Australian Netball Diamonds, represent Australia in international netball tests and competitions. The team was formed in 1938 and played in the first international game of netball, against New Zealand...
. The next several years saw George make her mark on the international circuit and cement her position in the Silver Ferns midcourt. She missed out on the Silver Ferns team for the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, but the following year was named in the team for the 2003 World Netball Championships in Kingston, Jamaica. New Zealand progressed to the final of the tournament, which they contested with Australia. During the final, George was sent off for three goals, but the Silver Ferns eventually defeated Australia by 47–44 to win the tournament. Her performance also earned her the Albie Pryor Memorial Sports Person of the Year at the Māori Sports Awards. George won another gold medal three years later at the 2006 Commonwealth Games
2006 Commonwealth Games
The 2006 Commonwealth Games were held in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia between 15 March and 26 March 2006. It was the largest sporting event to be staged in Melbourne, eclipsing the 1956 Summer Olympics in terms of the number of teams competing, athletes competing, and events being held.The site...
in Melbourne.
Withdrawal in 2007
In the leadup to the 2007 World Netball Championships, Temepara George announced on 30 July that year that she was standing down from international netball. She moved to Townsville, Queensland to live with her then-partner, rugby league player Sione FaumuinaSione Faumuina
Sione Faumuina is a New Zealand rugby league player who currently plays for the Redcliffe Dolphins.He joined the Castleford Tigers in the European Super League at the start of the 2009 season....
, who had accepted a contract with the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
. George's absence from the Silver Ferns was widely believed to have decreased the team's chances at the upcoming World Championships in Auckland. New Zealand finished second at the 2007 World Championships, behind Australia.
With the start of a new netball competition in 2008, the ANZ Championship
ANZ Championship
The ANZ Championship is the pre-eminent netball league in the world. The competition is held annually between April and July, comprising 69 matches played over 17 weeks. It is contested by ten teams, five from Australia and five from New Zealand...
, replacing the National Bank Cup, Temepara George considered signing with the Queensland Firebirds
Queensland Firebirds
The Queensland Firebirds are an Australian netball team based in Brisbane that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The Firebirds were formed as one of the foundation teams of the Commonwealth Bank Trophy , previously the premier netball league in Australia, which was contested...
while living in Queensland. She eventually turned down the Firebirds in favour of returning to New Zealand, and signed with the Auckland-based Northern Mystics
Northern Mystics
The Northern Mystics are a New Zealand netball team based in Auckland that currently compete in the trans-Tasman ANZ Championship. The franchise was formed in 2007 as an amalgamation of two teams from the National Bank Cup – the Northern Force and the Auckland Diamonds – after the competition was...
franchise.
That same year, Temepara George was a contestant on the New Zealand version of Dancing with the Stars
Dancing with the Stars (New Zealand TV series)
Dancing with the Stars is a New Zealand television series based on the British series Strictly Come Dancing. The show introduces eight local celebrities paired with professional ballroom danceers who each week compete against each other in a competition to impress a panel of judges and the viewing...
. George went on to win the 2008 show, partnered with Stefano Olivieri. In 2009 George appeared on the New Zealand travel program Intrepid Journeys
Intrepid Journeys
Intrepid Journeys is a New Zealand television series, which screens on TV ONE. Making its debut in 2003, the show focuses on New Zealand "celebrities" who travel over to exotic countries to see the country's history, culture and people....
, travelling to Darjeeling and Sikkim
Sikkim
Sikkim is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayan mountains...
.
Return to international netball
In 2009, Temepara George announced her availability for the national team, and committed to playing with the Silver Ferns until at least the 2011 World Netball Championships. She was subsequently selected for the inaugural World Netball SeriesWorld Netball Series
The World Netball Series is an international netball competition that was contested for the first time in October 2009. The new competition features modified "fastnet" rules, and has been likened to Twenty20 cricket and rugby sevens...
in Manchester, which the Silver Ferns won with a 32–27 victory over Jamaica in the final. George travelled to Delhi the following year for the 2010 Commonwealth Games
2010 Commonwealth Games
The 2010 Commonwealth Games, officially known as the XIX Commonwealth Games, were held in Delhi, India, from 3 to 14 October 2010. A total of 6,081 athletes from 71 Commonwealth nations and dependencies competed in 21 sports and 272 events, making it the largest Commonwealth Games till date...
, winning gold with the Silver Ferns after an epic 66–64 gold medal playoff against Australia. Injury forced her out of the side for the three-test series against England in early 2011. She recovered in time for the start of the 2011 ANZ Championship season
2011 ANZ Championship season
The 2011 ANZ Championship season was the fourth season of the ANZ Championship in Australasia, commencing on 13 February. The 2011 season started much earlier in the year compared with previous seasons, to accommodate the 2011 Netball World Championships in July...
. The Mystics had their best ever campaign in 2011, qualifying for their first finals series, before finishing runners-up in the grand final. George was recalled into the Silver Ferns for the 2011 World Championships in Singapore. The Silver Ferns progressed to the gold medal match against perennial rivals Australia, and in another overtime match New Zealand were defeated 58–57.