Gina Crampton was planning to be in New York this year, missing the ANZ Premiership and the international season.
But after her partner Faasiu Fuatai’s rugby team, Rugby New York, ceased operations and pulled out of Major League Rugby this year, the pair have made Sydney home, for now.
“We figured we may as well give Sydney a go, it wasn’t an option being home [in New Zealand] for good,” she told 1News.
“So we’re here. A couple of my good friends Jamie [Hume] and Elle [Temu] are playing for a club team here and they said ‘why don’t you join, we need a midcourter’,” Crampton said.
After joining newly formed New South Wales Premier League side Mounties Magic, the 32-year-old got in touch with Giants coach Julie Fitzgerald, who asked her to be a training partner.
Crampton said she couldn’t turn the opportunity down.
“Being a training partner is different. You do everything with the team for pre-season, but you’re not really in the team. It’s more of an experience for me. The facilities here are amazing, the training style is completely different. Who knows what might come about.”
While the former Silver Ferns captain isn’t part of the playing roster she may be used as injury cover for the Giants in the Suncorp Super Netball competition.
Crampton acknowledged it’s completely opposite to her planned break, but she’s enjoying being part of new teams in a new country. She’s open to a full time contract in Australia if a spot were to open up.
“As sportspeople we always want to be playing as long as we can and if things pop up I’d definitely grab the opportunity with both hands. It’s something different. I’ve been playing in New Zealand so long that maybe it’s a good thing, and re-excites the game for me.”
There’s a Kiwi netball contingent in the Sydney with Crampton joining Sam Winders at the Giants. At the New South Wales Swifts Temu is a training partner, while Hume is part of the academy.
When asked about her future in the black dress, Crampton knows she won’t be able to represent New Zealand this year given she’s not playing in the ANZ Premiership.
But at this point in time, she’s at peace with her decision.
“I’m sure there’s people that have been retired for years that if they got the opportunity they would play again. You never know.”