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England national netball team facts for kids

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England
England roses logo.png
Nickname(s) Vitality Roses
The Roses
Association England Netball
Confederation Netball Europe
Head coach Jess Thirlby
Asst coach Liana Leota
Captain Fran Williams
Most caps Jade Clarke (208)
World ranking 2 Increase
Kit body netball.svg
Team colours
Kit skirt netball.svg
Team colours
Kit body netball.svg
Alternate
Kit skirt netball.svg
Alternate
First international
England  25–3  Scotland
GEC Ground, Wembley, 7 May 1949
Netball World Cup
Best result 2nd (1975, 2023)
Commonwealth Games
Appearances 7 (Debuted in 1998)
2022 placing 4th
Best result 1st (2018)

The England national netball team, also known as the Vitality Roses, represents England Netball in big international netball competitions. These include the Netball World Cup, the Commonwealth Games, and other exciting tournaments.

The team played their very first official match in 1949. Their biggest achievement so far is winning a gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. As of October 17, 2024, England is ranked second in the world for netball.

History of the Roses

First Matches Played

England's first official netball match was on May 7, 1949. They played against Scotland and Wales in a series of games. Both matches took place at the General Electric Company ground in Wembley. England won both games with a score of 25–3. The game against Scotland is thought to be England's very first international match.

In 1954, England played Northern Ireland for the first time. Two years later, on May 12, 1956, England hosted the Australian team. This was the first time England played a team from outside the UK. Australia won that game 14–11 in front of over 5,000 fans at Harringay Arena. Later in 1956, England traveled to play South Africa and won all three matches there.

Major Tournament Achievements

Netball World Cup Journeys

England has played in every World Netball Championships and Netball World Cup since the very first one in 1963. Their best results were finishing second in both the 1975 and 2023 tournaments.

Tournaments Place
1963 World Netball Championships 3
1967 World Netball Championships 4th
1971 World Netball Championships 3
1975 World Netball Championships 2
1979 World Netball Championships 4th
1983 World Netball Championships 4th
1987 World Netball Championships 4th
1991 World Netball Championships 4th
1995 World Netball Championships 4th
1999 World Netball Championships 3
2003 World Netball Championships 4th
2007 World Netball Championships 4th
2011 World Netball Championships 3
2015 Netball World Cup 3
2019 Netball World Cup 3
2023 Netball World Cup 2

Commonwealth Games Success

England has competed in every netball tournament at the Commonwealth Games. For many years, Australia and New Zealand always won the gold and silver medals.

However, in 2018, England surprised everyone! With Tracey Neville as coach and Ama Agbeze as captain, they beat Australia in the final. Helen Housby scored the winning goal in the very last second, making the score 52–51. This made England only the third team ever to win a gold medal in netball at the Commonwealth Games. Their amazing win was voted "Sporting Moment of the Year" at the 2018 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards. The team was also named Team of the Year.

Tournaments Place
1998 Commonwealth Games 3
2002 Commonwealth Games 4th
2006 Commonwealth Games 3
2010 Commonwealth Games 3
2014 Commonwealth Games 4th
2018 Commonwealth Games 1
2022 Commonwealth Games 4th

Taini Jamison Trophy Wins

Since 2008, Netball New Zealand has hosted the Taini Jamison Trophy series, where New Zealand plays against visiting teams. England has been a regular participant. In 2021, England won the series for the first time, which was also their first series win in New Zealand. That team was coached by Jess Thirlby and captained by Serena Guthrie.

In 2024, England won the series again. Jess Thirlby was still the coach, and Fran Williams was the captain.

Tournaments Place
2008 Taini Jamison Trophy Series 2nd
2011 Taini Jamison Trophy Series 2nd
2014 Taini Jamison Trophy Series 2nd
2017 Taini Jamison Trophy Series 2nd
2020 Taini Jamison Trophy Series 2nd
2021 Taini Jamison Trophy Series 1st
2023 Taini Jamison Trophy Series 2nd
2024 Taini Jamison Trophy Series 1st

Netball Quad Series and Nations Cup

Since 2012, England has competed in the Netball Quad Series. In this series, they play against Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa.

In 2025, England finally won the series for the first time! Coached by Jess Thirlby and captained by Fran Williams, they beat South Africa 61–55 in the final. This was a big win, as England had finished as runners-up five times before in this competition.

Tournaments Place
2012 Netball Quad Series 3rd
2016 Netball Quad Series 3rd
2017 Netball Quad Series (January/February) 3rd
2017 Netball Quad Series (August/September) 3rd
2018 Netball Quad Series (January) 2nd
2018 Netball Quad Series (September) 2nd
2019 Netball Quad Series 2nd
2020 Netball Nations Cup 3rd
2022 Netball Quad Series 2nd
2023 Netball Quad Series 3rd
2024 Netball Nations Cup 2nd
2025 Netball Nations Cup 1st

Fast5 Netball World Series Victories

Since 2009, England has also played in the Fast5 Netball World Series. This is a faster, more exciting version of netball.

In 2011, with Anna Mayes as coach and Jade Clarke as captain, England won their first major tournament by beating New Zealand 33–26 in the final. They won the series again in 2017. That time, Tracey Neville was the coach and Ama Agbeze was the captain, and they defeated Jamaica 34–29 in the final.

Tournaments Place
2009 World Netball Series 4th
2010 World Netball Series 2
2011 World Netball Series 1
2012 Fast5 Netball World Series 2
2013 Fast5 Netball World Series 6th
2014 Fast5 Netball World Series 3
2016 Fast5 Netball World Series 4th
2017 Fast5 Netball World Series 1
2018 Fast5 Netball World Series 5th
2022 Fast5 Netball World Series 4th
2023 Fast5 Netball World Series 3
2024 Fast5 Netball World Series 5th

European Netball Championship Dominance

England has often played in the European Netball Championship against teams like Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. England is the most successful team in this competition, having won it many times.

Tournaments Place
2005 European Netball Championship 1
2006 European Netball Championship 1
2007 European Netball Championship 1
2008 European Netball Championship 1
2009 European Netball Championship 1
2010 European Netball Championship 1
2011 European Netball Championship 1
2012 European Netball Championship 1
2013 European Netball Championship 2
2015 Netball Europe Open Championships 1st
2016 European Netball Championship 1
2017 European Netball Championship 1
2019 European Netball Championship 1

Team Players and Coaches

Current Squad

The current squad was selected for the 2024 Netball Nations Cup.

England Roses roster
Players Coaches
Name Pos DOB Height Club Nat Caps
Halimat Adio GK, GD (1998-01-27) 27 January 1998 (age 27) 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) London Pulse England
Imogen Allison WD, C (1998-04-24) 24 April 1998 (age 27) 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) Manchester Thunder England
Eleanor Cardwell GS, GA (1994-11-11) 11 November 1994 (age 30) 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) Melbourne Mavericks Australia
Amy Carter C, WD (1998-10-28) 28 October 1998 (age 26) 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) Manchester Thunder England
Funmi Fadoju GD, GK, WD (2002-08-15) 15 August 2002 (age 22) 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) London Pulse England
Sasha Glasgow GA, GS (1998-07-19) 19 July 1998 (age 27) 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) Melbourne Mavericks Australia
Helen Housby GA, GS (1995-01-19) 19 January 1995 (age 30) 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) New South Wales Swifts Australia
Hannah Joseph WA, C (1994-02-08) 8 February 1994 (age 31) 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) Loughborough Lightning England
Natalie Metcalf WA, GA (1992-12-09) 9 December 1992 (age 32) 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) Manchester Thunder England
Berri Neil GA, GS (2003-02-12)12 February 2003 (aged 20) 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) London Pulse England
Jayda Pechova GD, GK (2004-08-21) 21 August 2004 (age 20) 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) Team Bath England
Razia Quashie GK, GD (1997-09-16) 16 September 1997 (age 27) 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Saracens Mavericks England
Ellie Rattu C, WD (2000-04-04) 4 April 2000 (age 25) 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) Saracens Mavericks England
Alicia Scholes WA, C (2001-05-08) 8 May 2001 (age 24) 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) London Pulse England
Olivia Tchine GS (2000-11-22) 22 November 2000 (age 24) 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) London Pulse England
Fran Williams (c) GD, GK, WD (1997-12-23) 23 December 1997 (age 27) 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) West Coast Fever Australia
Head coach
  • Jess Thirlby
Assistant coach



Notes
  • (c) – Captain
  • (cc) – Co-captain
  • (vc) – Vice-captain
  • Injured or on maternity leave – Injury / maternity leave
  • (TRP) – Temporary Replacement Player
Player profiles: Team website Last updated: 24 March 2024

Sources:


Famous Past Players

Many great players have been part of the England netball team. Some have even been added to England Netball's Hall of Fame.

England Netball's Hall of Fame Members

These players are recognized for their amazing contributions to England netball.

Inducted Player Appearances Years
2001 Mary Thomas 1948
2001 Kendra Slawinski 128 1983–1995
2001 Mary French 1949–1957
2005 Anne Stephenson 1960s
2007 Colette Thomson 89 1975–198x
2008 Amanda Newton 100 1996–2008
2009 Karen Atkinson 100 1997–2011
2013 Sonia Mkoloma 123 1999–2015
2014 Jade Clarke 208 2003–
2015 Pamela Cookey 114 2004–2015
2015 Geva Mentor 175 2001–2023
2018 Olivia Murphy 95 1997–2006
2018 Tracey Neville 81 1996–2008
2018 Ama Agbeze 2001–
2020 Eboni Usoro-Brown 116 2008–2022
2020 Joanne Harten 117 2007–2023
2020 Maggie Jackson 1984–1987

Captains Who Won Tournaments

These players led their teams to victory in major competitions.

Captains Tournaments
Jade Clarke 2011 World Netball Series
Ama Agbeze 2017 Fast5 Netball World Series
2018 Commonwealth Games
Serena Guthrie 2021 Taini Jamison Trophy Series
Fran Williams 2024 Taini Jamison Trophy Series
2025 Netball Nations Cup

2018 Commonwealth Games Gold Medalists

These are the players who were part of the squad that won the gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. They were also named Team of the Year at the 2018 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards.

Player Appearances Years
Ama Agbeze 2001–
Eboni Beckford-Chambers 116 2008–2022
Jade Clarke 208 2003–
Beth Cobden 35 2016–
Kadeen Corbin 72 2011–2021
Jodie Gibson 25 2013–
Serena Guthrie 110 2008–2022
Joanne Harten 117 2007–2023
Natalie Haythornthwaite 86 2015–
Helen Housby 102 2014–
Geva Mentor 175 2001–2023
Chelsea Pitman 52 2017–2023

Head Coaches of the Team

Many coaches have guided the England netball team over the years.

Coach Years
Rena Stratford 1956
Ellen Marsh 1963
Mary French 1967–1975
Joyce Wheeler 1979
Irene Beagles 1983
Gerry Cornwell 1985
Heather Crouch 1985–1987
Betty Galsworthy 1989–1991
Liz Broomhead 1993–1995
Mary Beardwood 1998–1999
Julie Hoornweg 1999–2002
Lyn Gunson 2002–2003
Margaret Caldow 2004–2007
Sue Hawkins 2007–2011
Maggie Jackson 2010
Colette Thomson 2011
Anna Mayes 2011–2015
Tracey Neville 2015–2019
Jess Thirlby 2019–
Liana Leota 2023

Team Honours and Awards

  • World Netball Championships/Netball World Cup
    • Runners up: 1975, 2023
  • Commonwealth Games
    • Winners: 2018
  • Taini Jamison Trophy
    • Winners: 2021, 2024
    • Runners Up: 2008, 2011, 2014, 2017, 2020, 2023
  • Netball Quad Series/Nations Cup
    • Winners: 2025
    • Runners Up: 2018 (January), 2018 (September), 2019, 2022, 2024
  • Fast5 Netball World Series
    • Winners: 2011, 2017
    • Runners up: 2010, 2012
  • European Netball Championship
    • Winners: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019
    • Runner up: 2013
  • BBC Sports Team of the Year Award
    • Winners: 2018
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