KEY POINTS:
Former New Zealand defender Vilimaina Davu is a late inclusion in the Fiji side for the netball world championships starting in Auckland on Saturday.
The influential goal keep will make her first appearance for Fiji since 1999 and was looking forward to playing for her home country again.
"I am excited," she told The Fiji Times newspaper.
"It has always been a goal for me to come back to Fiji and give to my nation what I had learned while playing for New Zealand.
"I am glad I am getting this opportunity to do so now."
Davu said there were a number of factors to take into account before she made the final decision to play.
"I was not sure as to how the players would respond but they have been great and have really made me feel welcome," she said.
Fiji Netball Association president Adi Alisi Tabete said Davu was only included after they got the green light from the International Federation of Netball on Friday morning.
Davu was allowed to switch nationalities again as Fiji is her country of birth.
Davu is a veteran of nearly 90 tests and first played at international level for Fiji at the 1992 under-21 world championships before making her debut in the senior side a year later.
After moving to New Zealand in 2000, she improved her speed, timing, and intimidatory tactics to become a permanent fixture in the Kiwis defence line.
Elizabeth Freeman will act as Fiji coach during the championships.
- NZPA
