16 Apr 2014

Sport: Julie Hoornweg new Fiji Pearls coach

10:51 am on 16 April 2014

Veteran Australian mentor Julie Hoornweg has been appointed as the new Fiji netball coach.

The national body advertised for a new Pearls coach in December, after receiving funding from the Fiji National Sports Commission as part of a government initiative to hire experienced overseas coaches.

Hoornweg previously coached Fiji in the late 1990s, including a sixth placed finish at the 1999 World Championships.

She was also the coach of the England national side for several years, before returning to Australia where she won titles with the Melbourne Phoenix and Melbourne Vixens.

She will be in charge for next month's Tri-series Plus One against Northern Ireland and Papua New Guinea and the World Champs qualifiers in the Cook Islands in June.

Meanwhile four new caps have been named in the Pearls squad for the Tri-Series plus One event.

High school students Vilisi Davui and Kelera Nawai have earned a call-up alongside Under 21 reps Deborah Delana and Ana Rusivakula.