Apia, Samoa 22 June 2026; Netball Samoa have announced the Samoa Invitational Team, a squad that will contest the three‑match series against the Australia Pathways Team as part of Netball’s Ocean of Power Tour.
The 3-match series will be held next month from 17-20 July at the Tuanaimato Multipurpose Sports Complex in Apia.
The series will also serve as the official trials for the Tifaimoana, the Samoa national teamahead of the Oceania Qualifiers for the 2027 Netball World Cup in September in Tonga.
This group is made up of invited Samoan players based in New Zealand and Australia, and includes five local players who have been selected from the PFL National Netball League and the Samoa National Independence Games endorsed by the Ministry of Sports and Recreation.
The local players are; Sayonara Alaalatoa (Marist Samoa), Amataga Gidlow Tuilagi (United Soulz), Vaitu’i Amosa (SCOPA Netball), Hetta Kalepo (Marist Samoa) and Mary Yandall (St Mary’s Sports Club).
The Samoa Invitational Team currently features the following players:
Kara Adrole
Papi Alaalatoa
Sayonara Alaalatoa
Vaitu’i Amosa
Eseta Autagavaia
Rianah Childs
Amataga Gidlow-Tuilagi
Lata’anga Holi
Hetta Kalepo
Fa’amu Ioane
Piuti Laban
Kristiana Manu’a
Asolelei Niumata
Unique Pritchard
Priscilla Rasmussen
Renee Savaiinaea
Mia Swann
Auteletoa Tanimo
Maria Tatupu
Gardenia Treviranus-Asiata
Mary Yandall
Head Coach: Natalie Mathews
Assistant Coach: Paula Stuart
Tifaimoana will contest the Oceania Qualifiers in Tonga in September.
Samoa will face Tonga, Fiji, Cook Islands and Papua New Guinea for two qualification spots to the Netball World Cup Sydney 2027.
Match schedule
• Friday 17 July — Match 1 Samoa Invitational vs Australia Pathways Team, 6:00pm
• Saturday 18 July — Match 2 vs Australia Pathways Team, 2:00pm
• Monday 20 July — Match 3 vs Australia Pathways Team, 11:30am
All matches will be played at the Tuanaimato Multipurpose Sports Complex, Apia.
Beyond matchplay, the Samoa Invitational Team and visiting Australia Pathways squad will take part in cultural exchanges, community clinics with local schools and clubs, and capacity‑building activities for players and officials.
These initiatives form a core part of the Ocean of Power Tour and are supported by the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports program, reinforcing sport diplomacy and regional development through netball.
Justine Samu Wilson Ata, CEO Netball Samoa says they are delighted to host the Australia Pathways Team on home soil.
“Usually we send our teams overseas, so bringing international netball back to Samoa is a proud moment for our community..
“This tour is an important step as we prepare to qualify for the Netball World Cup. We warmly welcome our players joining from New Zealand and Australia, and we are also excited for our local girls who now have the chance to trial in front of the home crowd..
“These opportunities lift standards, build experience, and strengthen pathways for Samoan netball.”
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