Irene van Dyk

Irene van Dyk
MNZM
Van Dyk in 2010
Personal information
Full name Irene van Dyk (née Viljoen)
Born (1972-06-21) 21 June 1972 (age 52)
Vereeniging, Gauteng, South Africa
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Occupation Primary school teacher
Spouse Christie van Dyk
Children Bianca van Dyk
Netball career
Playing position(s): GS, GA
Years Club team(s) Apps
2000–2002 Capital Shakers
2003–2013 Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic
2014–2016 Central Pulse
(Correct as of 6 March 2014)
Years National team(s) Caps
1994–1999 South Africa 72
2000–2014 New Zealand 145
(Correct as of 5 June 2014)

Irene van Dyk MNZM (née Viljoen; born 21 June 1972) is a South African-born New Zealand netball player. A goal-shooter, van Dyk is one of the world's best-known netballers and is the most capped international player of all time.[1]

Debuting in 1994, she represented South Africa 72 times and captained the team. In 2000, she moved to Wellington, New Zealand and was quickly picked for the New Zealand national team, the Silver Ferns.

She was the 2003 New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year and a nominee in 2005.[2] She became a New Zealand citizen in 2005, and represented New Zealand for 14 years before retiring from international netball in June 2014.

Van Dyk played for the Central Pulse in the ANZ Championship from 2014, taking a coaching role in more recent years.[3] For most of her domestic career in New Zealand she played for the Waikato/Bay of Plenty Magic (2003–2013).

  1. ^ Ash, Julie (28 October 2005). "Netball: Van Dyk prepares to rewrite record books". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 31 January 2007. Note: Some sources state that Mary Waya as the world's most capped netballer, but many of her caps (for Malawi) were not against full international sides.
  2. ^ "Irene van Dyk". Celebrity Speakers. Archived from the original on 29 October 2014. Retrieved 29 October 2014.
  3. ^ "Van Dyk back to boost Pulse's chances". Fairfax NZ News. 1 March 2014. Archived from the original on 6 March 2014. Retrieved 6 March 2014. for the first time since the Shakers' 2002 season, van Dyk will play in Wellington in home colours