AVIS Magic stalwart and ANZ Premiership centurion Leana de Bruin has joined the club’s management committee ahead of the 2024 domestic league.
The former Magic defender will join Gary Dawson and Scott Ratuki on the committee leading into next year’s ANZ Premiership, replacing Andrew Gaze.
The Management Committee was put in place ahead of the 2022 Premiership to help the Magic develop and maintain key commercial and funding partnerships as well as guiding the recruitment process for Magic’s staff and team for the new season, amongst other things.
Magic General Manager Justine Dixon said she was delighted to welcome de Bruin onto the Management Committee and looked forward to working with her.
“Leana has been at the heart of the Magic for a number of years, and we’re thrilled she has decided to return home to the club,” she said.
“She is a person who always set incredibly high standards on the netball court as a player and was well known for her professional work ethic. I can’t wait to see what she brings to the committee and the club.”
De Bruin made her Magic debut in 2003 and was a key member of the 2012 side which became the only New Zealand side to win the former trans-Tasman league.
The in-circle defender was also a founding member of the Robinhood Stars in the ANZ Premiership but following her retirement from the game in 2020 she answered a number of SOS calls from both the Stars and Magic as injury cover.
De Bruin began her international career with her birth country, South Africa, where she played 34 Tests before moving to New Zealand where she produced some of her best netball.
She debuted for the Silver Ferns in 2003 and in 2015 became the fifth Fern to achieve 100 Test Caps, going on to play in five World Cups and also three Commonwealth Games campaigns. She retired from international netball in 2016 having amassed 104 caps for the Silver Ferns.
De Bruin said she was excited to be back with the Magic but in a new role.
“This club is very close to my heart and to be given the opportunity to give back to the Magic in a different capacity is exciting,” she said.
“The foundations at the Magic remain strong and I look forward to seeing what this team and club can achieve both on and off the court.”
