Laura Langman

New Zealand midcourter and the most-capped Silver Fern of all time, who captained New Zealand to the 2019 Netball World Cup title after returning from an 18-month retirement.

Laura Robyn Langman was born on 16 April 1986 in Hamilton, New Zealand. She made her elite domestic debut with the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in 2003 and her international Test debut for the Silver Ferns in 2005 against England, quickly establishing herself as one of the finest midcourters in the world. Langman won Commonwealth Games gold with New Zealand in 2006 and 2010, and finished runner-up to Australia at the 2007 World Championships. In October 2018, she overtook Irene van Dyk's long-standing record to become the most-capped player in Silver Ferns history. Her career included a notable 18-month exile from the national team after she moved to play in Australia's domestic league in 2016 — a switch that initially cost her international eligibility until an exemption was granted in 2018, allowing her to return as captain. Langman's crowning achievement came in 2019, when she captained New Zealand to a dramatic one-goal victory over Australia in the World Cup final in Liverpool — the one major title that had eluded her. She retired from international netball shortly afterwards with 163 Test caps, before playing one final domestic season. Across an 18-year club career, Langman played for the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic (2003–2012, winning the 2012 ANZ Championship), Northern Mystics, NSW Swifts and Sunshine Coast Lightning, winning the 2017 Super Netball premiership with the latter before retiring in 2020.

Relentless, high-energy centre with exceptional aerial skills and an unmatched work rate across the court

Widely regarded as the greatest midcourter in netball history, celebrated for her work rate, leadership and longevity

• Netball World Cup Gold 2019 (captain)
• Commonwealth Games Gold 2006, 2010
• Most-capped Silver Fern in history (163 Tests)
• ONZM for services to netball