Pulse sign Reuelu-Buchanan and Fitzpatrick for 2018

Te Wānanga o Raukawa Pulse have signed NZU21 midcourter Mila Reuelu-Buchanan and defender Sulu Fitzpatrick for the 2018 ANZ Premiership.

Fitzpatrick makes the move to Wellington after anchoring the Northern Stars defence in their inaugural season, while Reuelu-Buchanan captained the unbeaten Central Beko Netball League side and was a Pulse training partner.

Making the Silver Ferns squad in 2011 as a 19-year-old and playing a one-off Test against England the same year, the 1.88m Fitzpatrick, a mobile and aerially-strong in-circle defender, is looking to enhance her career with the Pulse.

“When the opportunity came up, I couldn’t say no,” she said. “A big pull was the calibre of coaching at the Pulse, not just Yvette (McCausland-Durie) who I know from my time in the U21s but knowing that Wai (Taumaunu) and Sandra (Edge) were part of it as well was huge.""

For Reuelu-Buchanan, becoming a fully-fledged Pulse player is a dream come true.

“It has always been a dream of mine to play for a franchise team and it’s an absolute privilege to know that I am going to be playing for the Pulse as I’m from the region and am just over the moon,” she said.

“I was really fortunate to get more of an opportunity than I thought I would as a training partner this year, so I’m looking forward to just getting more experience of what it’s like playing at such a high level while also learning off my team-mates and opponents to become a better player.”

Fitzpatrick and Reuelu-Buchanan join Katrina Grant, Tiana Metuarau, Whitney Souness and Karin Burger as confirmed signings for 2018.