New Zealand legend Nathan Nukunuku announced his retirement from international softball after a 20-year career. The 39-years old infielder played 126 games for his National Team and won four world championships.
Nukunuku was part of the Black Sox team that dominated the men’s softball world, playing six consecutive finals and winning the world championship in 2000, 2004, 2013 and 2017.
He wore the Black Sox uniform for the last time in the WBSC Men’s Softball World Championship 2019 in Prague, Czech Republic, where New Zealand finished in the fourth place. It was his seventh World Championship, a record for our sport.
“It’s a decision that I’ve been coming to for a few months, or if I’m really honest the last couple of years. I’ve come to the realisation that my time with the Black Sox is up,” Nukunuku said to news media company Stuff. “That’s the ultimate decision. I want to be there for family and especially for my oldest son [seven-year-old Raika]. I’ve been selfish [in pursuing a long international career] and now I want to spend more time with the family.”
Nukunuku captained the Black Sox in the last two World Championships, in 2017 and 2019.
