Vilimaina Davu
Encyclopedia
Vilimaina Davu is a Fijian and New Zealand
netball
player, who has represented both countries in international netball as a goal keeper. She has also played basketball
at an international level.
in 1993, playing in 55 tests for her country of birth until 1999. She moved to New Zealand in 2000 and quickly established herself in the Silver Ferns
defence circle. During her Silver Ferns career, Davu became well known for her tough defensive style and frequent contact penalties.
After six years playing for New Zealand, Davu retired from international netball in 2006, and joined Fiji Netball as head coach of the national team to prepare them for the 2007 Netball World Championships in Auckland. Davu became a player-coach (similar to what Waisale Serevi
did in sevens rugby
) before the start of the tournament, joining the team as a goal keeper after they suffered several player injuries. However, Fiji had a disappointing showing at the 2007 World Championships and Davu resigned from her position.
In 2008, she returned to New Zealand and signed to play with the Northern Mystics
in the ANZ Championship
. Davu is also a weight-loss ambassador for Jenny Craig
in New Zealand and is featured on their advertisements.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
netball
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, who has represented both countries in international netball as a goal keeper. She has also played basketball
Basketball
Basketball is a team sport in which two teams of five players try to score points by throwing or "shooting" a ball through the top of a basketball hoop while following a set of rules...
at an international level.
Netball career
On the netball court she was a veteran of more than 100 international tests. She made her senior international debut for FijiFiji national netball team
The Fiji national netball team represents Fiji in international netball competition. Fiji have competed at five World Netball Championships, finishing sixth in their best placing at the 1999 tournament. They have also competed at two Commonwealth Games, and won the netball event at the South...
in 1993, playing in 55 tests for her country of birth until 1999. She moved to New Zealand in 2000 and quickly established herself in 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...
defence circle. During her Silver Ferns career, Davu became well known for her tough defensive style and frequent contact penalties.
After six years playing for New Zealand, Davu retired from international netball in 2006, and joined Fiji Netball as head coach of the national team to prepare them for the 2007 Netball World Championships in Auckland. Davu became a player-coach (similar to what Waisale Serevi
Waisale Serevi
Waisale Tikoisolomoni Serevi is a former Fijian rugby union footballer, and coach. Although he played fifteen-a-side rugby throughout his playing career, Serevi is most notable for his achievements in rugby sevens....
did in sevens rugby
Rugby sevens
Rugby sevens, also known as seven-a-side or VIIs, is a variant of rugby union in which teams are made up of seven players, instead of the usual 15, with shorter matches. Rugby sevens is administered by the International Rugby Board , the body responsible for rugby union worldwide...
) before the start of the tournament, joining the team as a goal keeper after they suffered several player injuries. However, Fiji had a disappointing showing at the 2007 World Championships and Davu resigned from her position.
In 2008, she returned to New Zealand and signed to play with 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...
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...
. Davu is also a weight-loss ambassador for Jenny Craig
Jenny Craig
Jenny Craig is an American weight loss guru and founder of Jenny Craig, Inc. Craig was raised in New Orleans and married Sidney Harvey Craig in 1979. In 1983, she and her husband created a nutrition, fitness, and weight loss program in Australia...
in New Zealand and is featured on their advertisements.