She played 11 games of netball in several different locations with the Wanderers Australia during the Junior Netball Tour 2017.

After hearing a friend talk about it at school, Riko did a bit of research about the tour and sent off an email enquiry to see if she could join the tour.

Once she had put together all the information, Riko approached her father, Ray to ask for permission and the funds to go.

“He couldn’t win the argument,” Riko said.

Thanks to the support of her grandparents both in Australia and Japan, along with her dad, the Gloucester student secured a place on one of the teams.

The Wanderers Australia organise international sporting tours for individual athletes or clubs throughout the year. In the January holidays, they take three junior netball teams with 40 players on a tour around England, Wales and France.

The games are played primarily in the UK but the players get the chance to tour around different cities during the 20 day trip. 

Riko went on her own and didn’t know any of the other players, but made friends quickly, as all the other players where in the same position.

She left Sydney on January 1, with six other players, meeting up with the rest of the group in Singapore; returning home on January 21.

She said she had a great time and would do another tour, if she could.

It wasn’t just about playing netball, it was the whole experience of travelling through different countries and meeting other players from all over Australia.

Her favourite game was the last one because it was the only one played outside.

“It was like four degrees and we played in our dresses,” she giggled.

The other teams all had layers of clothes on, but not the Australians.

Riko learned new skills from the players on her team and by playing against lots of different games.

“We had a really good coach,” she explained.

“She took notes during the game and gave us tips about how we could play better.”

Riko started playing netball in 2014, playing in local and school competitions.