1 Nov 2006

Silver Ferns defender Vilimaina Davu announces retirement

10:59 am on 1 November 2006

The Silver Ferns hopes of defending the world championship netball title in Fiji next year have suffered a setback with defender Vilimaina Davu announcing her retirement at international level.

After playing 55 tests for Fiji, Davu went onto play 58 tests for the Silver Ferns over a six year period.

She was a member of the 2003 world cup winning team and won gold at the Melbourne Commonwealth Games earlier this year but the lure of another world championship isn't enough.

"I've been thinking about this for a while, well I was going to retire straight after the Commonwealth Games, and well I thought I'm just going to finish off this year, and register myself in few round matches, yeah I just felt it's the right time for me to retire."

Davu has been linked with coaching Fiji's national side.