Posted March 01, 2017 12:38:57

Photo: Tania Dalton became a well-known commentator after retirement. (Twitter: SportNZ)

Former Silver Fern Tania Dalton has died peacefully in Auckland, nearly a week after suffering a brain aneurysm.

The 45-year-old was surrounded by family at Auckland City Hospital when she died Wednesday, a day after her life support was turned off.

Dalton suffered the internal aneurysm during a social game of touch rugby in Takapuna last Thursday.

She never recovered after being admitted to hospital in a critical condition, having suffered massive blood loss and a loss of oxygen to the brain for an extended period.

A mother of three, Dalton played 12 Tests mostly at shooter across an 11-year international career which finished in 2007.

She was part of the 2003 world championship-winning team, and also in the side that finished runners-up four years earlier.

She also played for the Northern Force and the Southern Sting, helping the latter to three national titles.

After her retirement, she became a well-known television commentator.

Numerous former team-mates and netball identities have expressed their sadness and support to the family over the past week.

She was hailed as a fun-loving, at times irreverent character, earning praise for her ability to balance motherhood with an extended and successful sports career.

Netball New Zealand released a statement extending its sympathies to Dalton's husband Duane and her family.

"Tania was a true competitor on the court who showed a passion and love for the game," Netball New Zealand chief executive Jennie Wyllie said in the statement.

"She was respected by team-mates and opponents across world Netball and was much-loved off the court.

"She will always be in our hearts."

AAP / ABC

Topics: netball, sport, new-zealand