Cheering on Sol Nash as he Heads to Oman
We’re excited to cheer on resident Solomon Nash as he sets off on an incredible cricket journey. Solomon will travel to Auckland for a charity match, then to Malaysia to acclimatise before heading to Oman - where he will represent the Samoan national cricket team in the final stage of World Cup T20 qualifiers. If Samoa finishes in the top three, they’ll earn a spot at the World Cup and potentially achieve ODI status for the first time in history.
When you meet Solomon, it’s immediately clear that sport runs in his blood. With former Black Cap Dion Nash as his dad and Silver Ferns legend Bernice Mene as his mum, Solomon grew up surrounded by high-performance athletes. “It just became normal,” he says. “Sport was always around, and I naturally gravitated toward it.”
Solomon’s chosen sport is cricket, and not just as a casual hobby. A batting all-rounder and pace bowler, Solomon captained the 1st XI cricket team at St Paul’s Collegiate in Auckland from Year 10. By the end of Year 13, he had led his school’s team through a transformation - moving up eight grades and creating a strong, committed cricket culture.
Now, Solomon plays for the Old Boys Collegians club here in Christchurch and has made his international debut with the Samoa national team. His proudest moment so far? Helping Samoa win the first stage of World Cup qualifying - something that had never been done before.
“It felt like a miracle day,” he recalls. “Some of us younger guys still believed we could do it, even when others thought it was over - and we did.”
Playing for Samoa has also given Solomon the chance to travel widely and experience different cultures - opportunities that tie in perfectly with his academic interests. He is studying a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and International Business, a path inspired by his time participating in Model United Nations back in Year 12. “I loved it - and my teachers encouraged me to think seriously about international relations,” he explains. “Now I’m actually enjoying every class, which is a great feeling.”
Looking ahead, Solomon hopes to play Cricket for Canterbury, then eventually follow in his parents’ footsteps and play for New Zealand, while also working toward a career in diplomacy. He says he takes after both parents who are highly competitive - his mum’s calm style and his dad’s fierce energy. “I think I’ve got a good balance of both,” he comments, “New Zealand has such a culture of humility and sportsmanship, but there are moments when you need to channel that determination and go after it. Knowing when to do that is key.”
From the cricket pitch to the lecture hall, Solomon Nash is balancing ambition, humility, and a drive to make his mark on the world. We’re proud to see him represent R&R and Samoa - and we can’t wait to see what he and his team achieve in Oman.