Former Silver Ferns captain Casey Kopua returns to top flight netball
Casey Kopua playing against England in 2019.
Photo:
PHOTOSPORT
Kopua has been called in as injury cover for Sydney side, the Giants for this weekend's match against the Melbourne Vixens in the Australian Super League.
The 39-year-old Kopua is just three weeks shy of her 40th birthday. She retired from top flight netball in 2019 after leading New Zealand to the World Cup title.
Kopua has a strong link with Giants coach Julie Fitzgerald, who coached Kopua for several seasons at the Waikato-Bay of Plenty Magic.
Kia Ora Casey Kopua
The former
@SilverFernsNZ
legend has signed as temporary replacement player for round eight.
The move will aslo reunites Kopua with former teammates Australian international Jamie-Lee Price and England international Jo Harten, who she played alongside with at the Magic.
In making the announcement the Giants said Kopua is "known for her tenacity, game smarts, and ability to lift those around her, the former world champion is expected to provide invaluable guidance to the young Giants squad."
Kopua went into retirement as a two-time Commonwealth Games gold medallist and a Netball World Cup champion but has continued to play netball in top-level mixed competitions and lower leagues.
Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero
,
a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
3 hours ago
- RNZ News
NRL: Wounded NZ Warriors re-arrrange line-up to face Cronulla Sharks
Rocco Berry was forced from the field against Souths with a hamstring twinge. Photo: David Neilson/Photosport Warriors v Sharks Kickoff 7.30pm Saturday, 7 June Sharks Stadium Sydney Live blog updates on RNZ Sport Injury-plagued NZ Warriors centre Rocco Berry has joined co-captain Mitch Barnett on the sidelines for their away game against Cronulla Sharks on Saturday. After having a fully fit squad to choose from last week - the first time since 2023 - coach Andrew Webster has had to juggle his line-up again, with Barnett ruled out for the season with a ruptured ACL in his right knee and Berry hampered by a hamstring twinge that forced him from the field against South Sydney Rabbitohs on Sunday. Berry has struggled to stay on the park for the Warriors after missing the start of the season with a shoulder injury, withdrawing from his scheduled return against Wests Tigers with hamstring trouble, picking up a suspension in his eventual return against Melbourne Storm and then missing three more games with his dodgy hammy. He has managed just four appearances so far this campaign. Webster has addressed Berry's absence by shifting versatile second-rower Kurt Capewell into the midfield, but also has specialist centre Ali Leiataua on an extended bench. Teenage sensation Leka Halasima has moved into the starting pack, where he has lined up in six of his 12 appearances this season. Without Barnett, Jackson Ford has been promoted from the bench to start in the front row. Meanwhile, Sharks coach Craig Fitzgibbon has named former Warriors front-rower Addin Fonua Blake to face his old team for the first time, since his early release to return across the Tasman. Kiwis winger Ronaldo Mulitalo is suspended, so Hamilton-born Sione Katoa makes his comeback from shoulder reconstruction, while NZ-born players Mawene Hiroti, Oregon Kaufusi, Briton Nikora and Braden Hamlin-Uele also named. Warriors: 1 Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad, 2 Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3 Adam Pompey, 4 Kurt Capewell, 5 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6 Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7 Luke Metcalf, 8 James Fisher-Harris, 9 Wayde Egan, 10 Jackson Ford, 11 Leka Halasima, 12 Marata Niukore, 13 Erin Clark Interchange: 14 Te Maire Martin, 15 Jacob Laban, 16 Demitric Vaimauga, 17 Tanner Stowers-Smith Reserves: 18 Tom Alex, 20 Sam Healey, 21 Tanah Boyd, 22 Ali Leiataua, 23 Taine Tuaupiki Sharks: 1 Will Kennedy, 2 Sione Katoa, 3 Jesse Ramien, 4 KL Iro, 5 Mawene Hiroti, 6 Braydon Trindall, 7 Nico Hynes, 8 Addin Fonua-Blake, 9 Blayke Brailey, 10 Oregon Kaufusi, 11 Briton Nikora, 12 Teig Wilton, 13 Cam McInnes Interchange: 14 Daniel Atkinson, 15 Jesse Colquhoun, 16 Siosifa Talakai, 17 Braden Hamlin-Uele Reserves: 18 Billy Burns, 19 Tuku Hau Tapuha, 20 Hopeha Puru, 21 Jayden Berrell, 22 Niwhai Puru Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
3 hours ago
- RNZ News
Rugby: Chiefs captain extends stay and targets 100 game milestone
Luke Jacobson captain of the Chiefs. Photo: Jeremy Ward Chiefs captain Luke Jacobson has re-signed with New Zealand Rugby for another two years. The loose forward made his Chiefs debut in in 2018 and has earned 88 caps for the side. After making his All Blacks debut the following year, he has played 23 games for New Zealand. Currently in his second year as Chiefs captain, Jacobson has guided the Super Rugby Pacific side through back-to-back finals campaigns and is excited about what the team can achieve together in the coming years. "It's not just the results that keep you around - it's the environment and the team culture. Between the coaches, management, and the players, there's a good group of people here and they make it pretty hard to leave," Jacobson said. "I really enjoy my rugby here. I'm able to grow my game and grow my leadership. I grew up supporting this team and after playing with them for eight years, it's a team that continues to really align with my values. "I'd love to play 100 games for the Chiefs, it would be a huge milestone for me and one I would be really proud to achieve." Outgoing Chiefs head coach Clayton McMillan said Jacobson's leadership had been key in shaping the character of the team. "He leads with integrity humility, and total commitment to the jersey and that's respected by everyone. His decision to re-sign speaks volumes about the culture we've built and the direction we're heading." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
3 hours ago
- RNZ News
Support for National and Labour fall in latest 1News-Verian poll
Chris Hipkins and Christopher Luxon. Photo: RNZ The coalition could hold on to power, while National, Labour and ACT all lose support in the latest 1News-Verian poll shows. With small increases for New Zealand First, the Greens and Te Pāti Māori, the results would give the coalition a 63-seat majority, to the opposition's 58. Support for Prime Minister Christopher Luxon also remains steady, while Labour's Chris Hipkins falls slightly. Four parties outside Parliament all registered 1 point of support: TOP (The Opportunities Party, down 1), New Zeal (up 1), the NZ Outdoor and Freedoms Party (steady), and Aotearoa Legalise Cannabis Party (up 1). People saying they did not know who they would vote for, or refused to answer, accounted for 11 percent of responses. There were only minor changes on the preferred prime minister stakes, with Luxon holding his lead over Hipkins. Preferred prime minister: The poll surveyed 1002 eligible voters and was weighted for demographics, with a margin of error of 3.1 percent at the 95 percent confidence interval. It was conducted between 24 and 28 May. The sample for mobile phones is selected by random dialling using probability sampling, and the online sample is collected using an online panel. Undecided voters, non-voters and those who refused to answer are excluded from the data on party support. Polls compare to the most recent poll by the same polling company, as different polls can use different methologies. They are intended to track trends in voting preferences, showing a snapshot in time, rather than be a completely accurate predictor of the final election result.
