Fijian · Nuku, Serua Province, Fiji · Born 15 January 1977Fijian-born defender who captained her homeland before switching allegiance to New Zealand, winning the 2003 World Netball Championships and 2006 Commonwealth Games gold.
Vilimaina Davu was born on 15 January 1977 in Nuku, a small village in Fiji's Serua Province with no phones or electricity, and walked 10km to school each day. Selected for Fiji's under-21 team at just 14, she captained the senior Fijian Pearls from age 18, leading them to a best-ever sixth-place finish at the 1999 Netball World Championships in Christchurch, where a narrow loss to South Africa's Irene van Dyk denied Fiji a place in the final four. Davu relocated to New Zealand in 2000 and, after just one domestic season with Canterbury Flames, was selected for the Silver Ferns, making her debut against South Africa in November 2000. Nicknamed 'Shorty' despite standing 190cm tall, she formed a menacing defensive partnership with Sheryl Scanlan, helping New Zealand win the 2003 World Netball Championships in Kingston, Jamaica — the country's first world title since 1987 — and Commonwealth Games silver in 2002 and gold in 2006, earning 60 Test caps for her adopted country. Davu retired from international netball in 2005 and was appointed head coach of Fiji in 2006, guiding the Pearls to gold at the 2007 South Pacific Games and playing as player/coach at the 2007 World Netball Championships, ending her career, fittingly, back where it began with Fiji. She has lived in Auckland for more than a decade, working in recruitment while remaining involved in New Zealand netball coaching.
Switching allegiance from Fiji to New Zealand and becoming a key defensive figure in the Silver Ferns' 2003 World Championship win
How They Played
Physically imposing, explosive goal keeper with elite aerial ability and surprising speed for her size
Lasting Impact
Remembered as one of the great characters of world netball, an imposing yet fun-loving defender who bridged Pacific and New Zealand netball with distinction
Career Honours
- World Netball Championships Gold 2003 (New Zealand)
- Commonwealth Games Gold 2006 (New Zealand)
- Commonwealth Games Silver 2002 (New Zealand)
- Best-ever 6th place finish for Fiji at the 1999 World Championships (as captain)
| Club | Period | Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Canterbury Flames | 2000–2006 | — |
| Northern Force | 2007–2007 | — |
Fijian Athletes