Former Silver Fern Leana de Bruin shifts career to Chiefs Rugby Club

Former international netballer Leana de Bruin has shifted her career from the netball court to the high paced commercial environment of the Chiefs Rugby Club.

De Bruin forged her career in netball, having been an international netballer for 16 years. The in-circle defender began her international career in South Africa where she played 34 Tests for her country of birth. De Bruin made New Zealand home in 2001.

Debuting for the Silver Ferns in February 2003 against the England Roses was the start of a stellar career for the hard-working defender. Consistently a strong performer, she was a tight and effective circle defender who provided powerful through-court drives and support play.

She notched a significant personal milestone at the 2015 Netball World Cup in Sydney when becoming the fifth Silver Fern to achieve 100 Test Caps.

De Bruin is one of a select group to have played in five Netball World Cups – 1999 (for South Africa) and 2003, 2007, 2011 and 2015 (for New Zealand). She has also played in the 2006, 2010 and 2014 Commonwealth Games.

De Bruin hung up her netball shoes following her final season in the ANZ Premiership with the Northern Stars in 2019. In September 2019, De Bruin’s career shifted from the netball court to the high paced environment of the Chiefs Rugby Club. The newly appointed Commercial Executive for the Club is striving in her new role. With a focus on connecting with sponsors and co-ordinating sponsor events alongside player community engagements, her bubbly personality and hard-working attitude is proving to be a valuable asset to the Chiefs Rugby Club.