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Irene van Dyk
Biography
BiographyIrene van Dyk MNZM (née Viljoen) is a South African-born New Zealand netball player. A goal-shoot, she is one of the world's best-known netballers and the most capped international player of all time.
Debuting in 1994, she represented South Africa 72 times and captained the team. In 2000 she moved to Upper Hutt, New Zealand, and took a teaching job at Fergusson Intermediate School.
She was quickly picked for the national team, the Silver Ferns. This caused some minor controversy, as the only rule in netball at the time for players switching between nations was a ban on playing for more than one nation in a calendar year.
New Zealand won the netball World Cup in 1973; the July 30 'Leader' printed a picture of her return to Fergusson Intermediate the previous week; a fortnight later she was too tour primary and intermediate schools, and attend a celebration outside the civic centre.
She was the 2003 New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year and a nominee in 2005. She became a New Zealand citizen in 2005, and represented New Zealand for 14 years before retiring from international netball in June 2014.
Debuting in 1994, she represented South Africa 72 times and captained the team. In 2000 she moved to Upper Hutt, New Zealand, and took a teaching job at Fergusson Intermediate School.
She was quickly picked for the national team, the Silver Ferns. This caused some minor controversy, as the only rule in netball at the time for players switching between nations was a ban on playing for more than one nation in a calendar year.
New Zealand won the netball World Cup in 1973; the July 30 'Leader' printed a picture of her return to Fergusson Intermediate the previous week; a fortnight later she was too tour primary and intermediate schools, and attend a celebration outside the civic centre.
She was the 2003 New Zealand Sportswoman of the Year and a nominee in 2005. She became a New Zealand citizen in 2005, and represented New Zealand for 14 years before retiring from international netball in June 2014.
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Details
Also Known AsIrene ViljoenDate of Birth21 June 1972Place of Birthnear JohannesburgSexFemaleEthnicityCaucasian
Date of Birth21 June 1972Place of Birthnear JohannesburgSexFemaleEthnicityCaucasianMarriage
HusbandChristie van Dyk
Family
ChildBianca
Irene van Dyk. Upper Hutt City Library, accessed 25/03/2026, https://uhcl.recollect.co.nz/nodes/view/24211