2/8/2019
It's official..... New Zealand Croatia Cricket is touring Samoa this September!
In association with SICA - the Samoa International Cricket Association, the club's third international tour will once again see our players take on the national teams of an ICC-affiliated country, with an exciting itinerary lined up that culminates in a one-day match and two T20s against the Samoa men's representative side.
NZ Croatia will also open their tour in Apia with an exhibition match against the highly accomplished Samoa Women's representative team who are coming off a gold medal in last month's 2019 Pacific Games. Samoa's men also picked up a bronze for their country that competes in the ICC's East Asia-Pacific conference, and witnessed former All Black Ofisa 'Junior' Tonu'u making his international cricket debut for the team.
After two successful and highly enjoyable tours to the Cook Islands, New Zealand Croatia Cricket is excited to be setting off to Samoa for the first time and is gearing up for some spirited battles on the pitch. The touring squad will depart New Zealand for the week-long tour on 18 September 2019 to play six matches across the week, with the final fixtures a T20 doubleheader against Samoa Men on 23 September.
NZ Croatia is also excited to now announce our touring squad, as follows:
- James Banicevich (Korcula)
- Josh Fisher (Parnell CC)
- Darron Goodwin (City CC)
- Stacy Hyndman (City CC)
- Ryan Majstrovic (Vrgorac)
- Daniel Marsic (Split/Vrgorac)
- Christy O'Brien (Sucaraj)
- Rory O'Brien (Sucaraj)
- Hayden Robinson (Suburbs New Lynn CC)
- Danyn Stewart (Korcula)
- Reece Young (Suburbs New Lynn CC)
- Joseph Yovich (Dubrava/Vrgorac) – Captain
- John Arnerich (Brac/Vrgorac) – Liaison / Manager
We are delighted to be introducing several new NZ Croatia representatives into our fold including Auckland-based brothers Christy and Rory O'Brien and several new Guest Players headlined by former Test BLACKCAP Reece Young - who is certainly no stranger to our unique culture having embraced the game at the mighty Suburbs New Lynn CC in west Auckland.
Former Northern Districts first-class cricketer Joey Yovich, of Whangarei, will captain the tour and is among several tour "veterans" with five of the touring party having been part of our previous tours to the Cook Islands in 2013 and 2014.
The club is also delighted to welcome on board Danyn Stewart who made his debut for us in Kaipaki a couple of years back. Danyn's association with the club goes back much further than that, however, as he played AGAINST us in one of our very first fixtures against Northern Maori! Well travelled Danyn represented Southland in a Hawke Cup defence last summer and will be joining us from his current base in Australia.
The touring squad has between them: 5 Test Matches, 247 First-Class matches, 198 List A matches and many other representative caps for New Zealand's District Associations. Supporters interested in joining us on tour in Samoa are invited to contact us via our Facebook page.
We look forward to making further tour announcements in the coming weeks as we build up to saying "talofa!" to our new friends in Samoa!
