New Zealander · Titahi Bay, Wellington Region, New Zealand · Born 31 August 1973New Zealand shooter who represented the Silver Ferns during the 1990s and was part of medal-winning World Championship squads.
Leilani Read was born on 31 August 1973 in Titahi Bay, near Wellington, of Samoan descent, and made her Silver Ferns debut against Namibia in Palmerston North in 1993 at 19. A powerful, flexible shooter equally comfortable at goal shooter or goal attack, she was part of the New Zealand team that won a silver medal at the 1993 World Games in The Hague, Netherlands. Dropped from the Silver Ferns squad in 1994, Read made the decision to switch international allegiance to Samoa, the country of her heritage, and was selected for their squad ahead of the 1995 World Netball Championships. She never got the chance to play for her adopted nation at a major tournament: in August 1999, weeks before Samoa's campaign at that year's World Championships, Read collapsed after training with a rare blood disorder and died from a brain haemorrhage at Wellington Hospital. She was 25. Her death was met with an outpouring of grief across New Zealand and Samoan netball, with dozens of players, including her cousin and fellow Silver Fern Bernice Mene, gathering at her bedside in her final days. She was remembered by teammates and family for her talent, her flair on court, and her constant smile.
Silver Fern shooter from the 1990s World Championship era
Career Honours
- 1993 World Games silver (New Zealand)
New Zealander Athletes