Netball players Rumei Meredith and Larafina Tanielu Stowers are elated the Saints Super 4 tournament is around the corner and one of the game's Kiwi superstars is here.

Both girls previously attended St Mary’s College and are now at the National University of Samoa (N.U.S.) and the University of Auckland. They have gradually enjoyed playing in the tournament since its establishment in 2021. The tournament uses the names of teams based on the official house titles and colours at St Mary’s College: the Avila team (yellow); the Orleans team (blue); the Aquinas team (red); and the De Porres team (green).

In an interview with the Samoa Observer on Tuesday, both girls shared that they will be representing the Orleans team in the upcoming tournament and are looking forward to the tournament, especially with Toesulu Tone-Fitzpatrick of Silver Ferns fame in attendance.

“I’m excited and I can’t wait to just get on that court, but [um] hopefully, we’ll do our best on there,” said Rumei.

Her colleague Larafina added: “I’m also very excited and nervous at the same time but also just really grateful for the opportunity - and having Sulu here is like a bonus cause we get to learn a lot from her before we play."

Rumei, 17, is from Lotofaga and Safotu and Larafina, 20, is from Vaiala, Moata’a, and Safotu. 

Both girls expressed how much they admire Toesulu and are stoked to be participating in the netball star's clinics this week. While they both agreed that winning the competition would be “cool”, they are looking forward to the connections that will be made, the growth of the teams, and the development of netball overall in Samoa. 

Rumei said her message to the girls participating in the tournament is, “Shoot for the moon, even if you miss you’ll land among the stars". Larafina said she wants the girls of the tournament to “keep going and to be motivated”. 

In a press conference on Tuesday at the Multipurpose Hall in Tuanaimato, the Saint Mary's Sports Club (S.M.S.C.) President Visceta Meredith appealed to friends, family and the wider netball community to fill up the stadium stands and support the netball tournament. 

“We need to fill up this grandstand on the days of the tournaments as I said we see it in rugby everybody goes because it’s like the number one sport here for our nation - but let’s make netball that other sport to go to,” said Meredith.

The Samoa National Netball League are hosting this tournament which will bring together girls from different netball clubs. The goal of the competition is to promote growth, development, unity, partnership, and fair play in netball. The tournament’s slogan is “STRENGTH IN UNITY,” which reflects the importance of harmony. 

The championship tournament is being held in partnership with the Samoa Netball Association. The tournament will run from the 17th till the 19th of August 2023.