England national netball team facts for kids
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Nickname(s) | Vitality Roses The Roses |
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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 ![]() |
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First international | |||
England ![]() ![]() GEC Ground, Wembley, 7 May 1949 |
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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.
Contents
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 |
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1963 World Netball Championships | ![]() |
1967 World Netball Championships | 4th |
1971 World Netball Championships | ![]() |
1975 World Netball Championships | ![]() |
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 | ![]() |
2003 World Netball Championships | 4th |
2007 World Netball Championships | 4th |
2011 World Netball Championships | ![]() |
2015 Netball World Cup | ![]() |
2019 Netball World Cup | ![]() |
2023 Netball World Cup | ![]() |
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 |
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1998 Commonwealth Games | ![]() |
2002 Commonwealth Games | 4th |
2006 Commonwealth Games | ![]() |
2010 Commonwealth Games | ![]() |
2014 Commonwealth Games | 4th |
2018 Commonwealth Games | ![]() |
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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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2009 World Netball Series | 4th |
2010 World Netball Series | ![]() |
2011 World Netball Series | ![]() |
2012 Fast5 Netball World Series | ![]() |
2013 Fast5 Netball World Series | 6th |
2014 Fast5 Netball World Series | ![]() |
2016 Fast5 Netball World Series | 4th |
2017 Fast5 Netball World Series | ![]() |
2018 Fast5 Netball World Series | 5th |
2022 Fast5 Netball World Series | 4th |
2023 Fast5 Netball World Series | ![]() |
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 |
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2005 European Netball Championship | ![]() |
2006 European Netball Championship | ![]() |
2007 European Netball Championship | ![]() |
2008 European Netball Championship | ![]() |
2009 European Netball Championship | ![]() |
2010 European Netball Championship | ![]() |
2011 European Netball Championship | ![]() |
2012 European Netball Championship | ![]() |
2013 European Netball Championship | ![]() |
2015 Netball Europe Open Championships | 1st |
2016 European Netball Championship | ![]() |
2017 European Netball Championship | ![]() |
2019 European Netball Championship | ![]() |
Team Players and Coaches
Current Squad
The current squad was selected for the 2024 Netball Nations Cup.
England Roses roster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Players | Coaches | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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 |
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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