Netball in Samoa

Netball in Samoa is a popular game, usually played by girls on Saturdays during the winter, though games can be played at all times of the year.^[1] The sport started to grow in popularity during the 1970s.^[2] The popularity of netball is also growing amongst men on the island.^[1]

Samoa and Fiji are traditional netball rivals. This rivalry can be seen at events like Pacific Games.^[1]

As of August 2016, the women's national team was ranked fourteen in the world.^[3]

Samoa has a men's national team that has competed in the 2009 and 2011 International Challenge Men's and Mixed Netball Tournament.^[4]

At Gay Games VI, a transgender netball from Samoa competed.^[5]

Rita Fatialofa is a Samoan netball player, who later went on to compete on New Zealand's national team. She became the coach for the Samoan national team, qualifying them for every Pacific Games,^[6] as well as 1991 and 1995 Netball World Championships.^[7] Cathrine Latu is another famous Samoan player who went on to play for New Zealand.

• Oceania Sport