5 Dec 2014

Solia named Pulse assistant coach

11:39 am on 5 December 2014

The former Central Pulse player Frances Solia has been named as assistant coach for the Wellington-based trans-tasman netball franchise.

Pulse Head Coach Robyn Broughton says she's delighted to have someone who is both young and local.

Frances Solia playing for the Central Pulse in 2008.

Frances Solia playing for the Central Pulse in 2008. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Broughton says Solia has a background in coaching in the region and has had great success recently with her Kapi-Mana team.

Solia played for Samoa at two Commonwealth Games and three World Championships and played in the ANZ Championship with both the Pulse and Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic.

The 38-year old mid-courter retired from playing in 2012 to start a family, but returned to netball as centre manager for Kapi-Mana and more recently as emerging talent manager for Netball Central Zone.

A stalwart of PIC club netball and Kapi-Mana, Solia recently took her Kapi-Mana team to fifth place in the 2014 national championships, winning four out the six games.

Solia says she's confident that she can learn a lot from Broughton, who she says is a legend in the game, well respected, and as an ex-player it's great to have her as the first person to start her on my coaching pathway.

The Central Pulse open their 2015 ANZ Championship campaign against the Melbourne Vixens on March 1st.

Get the RNZ app

for ad-free news and current affairs

We have regular online commentary of local and international sport.