Dion Nukunuku

Dion Nukunuku (born 20 March 1970) is a former member of the New Zealand national softball team, called "The Black Sox". He was in the teams that won the world championship in 1996, 2000 and 2004. He has continued as a coach in the sport.

Early life Nukunuku spent his childhood in Hawkes Bay and Auckland and was educated at Hastings between 1983 and 1987. Dion Nukunuku is the brother of Softball international, Nathan Nukunuku.

1990 - he was a member of the Black Sox team debut on the Canada Cup tour; 1992 - he was a member of the silver medal-winning world series Black Sox team in Manila, Philippines where he played second base in the final against Canada; 1992 - he was a member of the silver medal-winning world series Black Sox team in Manila, Philippines where he played second base in the final against Canada; 1996 - he was a member of the world champion Black Sox in Michigan, USA where he played shortstop in the final against Canada; 2000 - he was a member of the world champion Black Sox in East London, South Africa where he played second base in the final against Japan; 2004 - he was a member of the world champion Black Sox in Christchurch, where he played second base in final against Canada; 2005 - he was a member of the gold medal-winning Black Sox team at the Pacific Cup Series in Rotorua, playing second base in the final against Japan.

Post-softball career While playing softball, Nukunuku worked for Tower Insurance in Auckland, which he had done since he was 16 years old. However, in 2009 he was arrested and charged with fraud after it was discovered (after he was made redundant) that he had stolen and gambled away over $NZ450,000. He was sent to Mt Eden prison in 2009 and was released in 2011, having complete two years of his three-year sentence.