Michelle “Michy” Parsons has been named the new head coach of the Fiji Pearls and has wasted no time setting a single, urgent target: secure qualification for the Netball World Cup through September’s qualifying tournament. In her first public interview since taking the role, Parsons told Times Sport that the World Cup qualifiers are the team’s priority and that preparations will begin immediately.
“We’re defined by our pinnacle events, so September is the most important. We’ve got to qualify for the World Cup — that’s the real priority,” Parsons said, acknowledging the tight timeframe and the challenge of building a competitive squad on short notice. Though she only recently assumed the position, Parsons stressed that the Pearls must act quickly to assemble and prepare a roster capable of advancing to the global stage.
Netball Fiji has already moved to open the selection process under Parsons’ direction, scheduling trials for players across the country this weekend. Northern-division players will be assessed at Savusavu Hardcourt on Friday from 8am to 11am, while Central/Eastern division hopefuls are invited to the USP Gym outdoor courts on Saturday from 8am until 12pm. The trials mark the beginning of a nationwide search to identify talent ahead of the September qualifiers.
Parsons is broadening the talent sweep beyond domestic pools, explicitly calling on eligible players living overseas and within Fiji’s diaspora to come forward. “We’re literally putting a call out to the world — if you want to be a Pearl, we want to hear from you,” she said, indicating that selection will consider the full range of players eligible to represent Fiji. Her approach reflects an urgency to tap into all available talent to strengthen the squad ahead of a compressed preparation window.
Beyond the immediate World Cup goal, Parsons outlined a longer-term vision to restore the Pearls to consistent appearances at major international meets, naming the Oceania Games and Commonwealth Games alongside the Netball World Cup as targets. Her appointment and early mobilisation of trials signal a shift to a results-focused regime aiming to rebuild Fiji’s presence at elite netball events.
This weekend’s trials are the first concrete action under Parsons’ tenure and will be closely watched by Netball Fiji officials and supporters. With the qualifiers looming in September, the new coach and her selectors face limited time to evaluate players, finalise a squad and implement a competitive game plan. The coming weeks will determine whether Parsons’ early, expansive recruitment push can translate into a squad capable of securing World Cup qualification.
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