I have been playing for VK Zadar in Croatia. After arriving in Zadar, I was quickly immersed into some high intensity water polo training in preparation for our upcoming games. Our competitions started in early October and they will run until next April. My team plays in the Regional Adriatic A2 League (9 teams from Croatia, Serbia & Montenegro), the Croatian National Cup (10 teams) and the Croatian National Championship (8 teams). My team is young but very talented. Some of the them have played in Croatian National age groups teams, played in overseas clubs and our goalie is a former Croatian National Men’s team player.

Water polo is a huge sport over here and expectations are high. We train very hard with up to 11 pool sessions a week, 3 gym sessions and a game. The Adriatic League games have started and they are tough and competitive. The level of polo here is like nothing I have ever experienced before. My first game, I could hardly keep track of the ball, it was moving so fast. I came here to learn and improve and that’s exactly what I am doing. My coaches are very supportive and encouraging with a real emphasis on maximising and improving our performance. We have our own gym coach who focuses on water polo specific training programmes. We have two pools – one in the Adriatic Sea which is used in summer months and one indoors for the winter.

Our supporters are very enthusiastic, and we get big crowds at our games which is a real motivator. Everyone here is very passionate about polo and we are treated like royalty. When we went to Serbia last week, our team bus was escorted through the city by the police!!! There are always journalists at our games and every game gets featured in the Sports News. There has also been a lot of media interest in the kiwi guy from North Harbour which I find amusing.

Zadar is located on the Adriatic Coast 2 hours from Split. The weather is beautiful, the people are generous and the food is amazing - it’s an idyllic place to live, train, play and eat. The club have set me up in a great apartment across the road from an awesome little beach. Both of my flatmates have had a lot of experience playing in top teams in Croatia and Europe so there is lots to learn from them too.  My club is very family orientated. I have been welcomed like I am one of their own, with regular invites to their homes for huge feasts and I feel like I have known my team mates for years. Although everyone speaks excellent English, it’s also been important to me to learn some of the language.  

It’s not easy for New Zealand players to get into European clubs so I am very lucky to have this opportunity and I would encourage anyone who gets a chance like this, to go for it. As well as this incredible water polo experience, it’s an amazing life experience.

Croatia is one of the best water polo nations in the world and so for me it doesn’t get any better than this.