England national netball team facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
England

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
Team colours 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, represent England Netball in international netball tournaments such as the Netball World Cup, the Commonwealth Games, the Netball Quad Series, the Taini Jamison Trophy, the Fast5 Netball World Series and the European Netball Championship. They have also competed at the World Games. England made their Test debut in 1949. Their best result in a major tournament is a gold medal in the 2018 Commonwealth Games. As of 17 October 2024, England are ranked second in the World Netball Rankings.

History

Early tests

England made their Test debut on 7 May 1949 during a series that also featured Scotland and Wales. Both matches were played at the General Electric Company ground on Preston Road, Wembley. England won both matches 25–3. The match against Scotland is believed to be England's first international. In 1954, England played Northern Ireland for the first time. On 12 May 1956, England hosted a touring Australia. It was the first time England played an overseas team. Australia won 14–11 at Harringay Arena before a crowd of more than 5,000. Later in 1956, England played an away series against South Africa, winning all three tests.

Tournament history

Netball World Cup

England have competed at every World Netball Championships and/or Netball World Cup since the inaugural 1963 tournament. Their best performances have been in 1975 and 2023 when on both occasions they finished second.

Tournaments	Place
1963 World Netball Championships	03
1967 World Netball Championships	4th
1971 World Netball Championships	03
1975 World Netball Championships	02
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	03
2003 World Netball Championships	4th
2007 World Netball Championships	4th
2011 World Netball Championships	03
2015 Netball World Cup	03
2019 Netball World Cup	03
2023 Netball World Cup	02

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World Games

Between 1985 and 1993, England competed at the World Games.

Tournaments	Place
1985 World Games	4th
1989 World Games	03
1993 World Games	4th

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Commonwealth Games

England have competed at every netball tournament at the Commonwealth Games. Between 1998 and 2014, Australia and New Zealand contested every final and won every gold and silver medal between them. However, in 2018, England caused a major surprise when, with a team coached by Tracey Neville and captained by Ama Agbeze, they defeated Australia in the final. Helen Housby scored in the final second to give England a 52–51 victory. As a result England became only the third team to both reach the final and win the gold medal. At the 2018 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards, England's last second win over Australia was voted sporting moment of the year. England were also named Team of the Year.

Tournaments	Place
1998 Commonwealth Games	03
2002 Commonwealth Games	4th
2006 Commonwealth Games	03
2010 Commonwealth Games	03
2014 Commonwealth Games	4th
2018 Commonwealth Games	01
2022 Commonwealth Games	4th

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Taini Jamison Trophy

Since 2008, Netball New Zealand has hosted the Taini Jamison Trophy series. The series features New Zealand playing against visiting teams. England competed in the inaugural 2008 series and have been regular participants ever since. In 2021, they won the series for the first time. It was the first time that England had won a series in New Zealand. The England team were coached by Jess Thirlby and captained by Serena Guthrie. In 2024, England won the series for a second time. The team was again coached by Thirlby and this time captained by Fran Williams.

Netball Quad Series/Nations Cup

Since 2016, England have competed in the Netball Quad Series, playing against Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Fast5 Netball World Series

Since 2009, England have played in the Fast5 Netball World Series. In 2011, with a team coached by Anna Mayes and captained by Jade Clarke, England defeated New Zealand 33–26 in the final to win their first major tournament. In 2017 Fast5 Netball World Series, with a team coached by Tracey Neville and captained by Ama Agbeze, England won the series for a second time. In the final they defeated Jamaica 34–29.

Tournaments	Place
2009 World Netball Series	4th
2010 World Netball Series	02
2011 World Netball Series	01
2012 Fast5 Netball World Series	02
2013 Fast5 Netball World Series	6th
2014 Fast5 Netball World Series	03
2016 Fast5 Netball World Series	4th
2017 Fast5 Netball World Series	01
2018 Fast5 Netball World Series	5th
2022 Fast5 Netball World Series	4th
2023 Fast5 Netball World Series	03

European Netball Championship

England have regularly played in the European Netball Championship, playing against teams such as Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. England are the competition's most successful team.

Tournaments	Place
2005 European Netball Championship	01
2006 European Netball Championship	01
2007 European Netball Championship	01
2008 European Netball Championship	01
2009 European Netball Championship	01
2010 European Netball Championship	01
2011 European Netball Championship	01
2012 European Netball Championship	01
2013 European Netball Championship	02
2015 European Netball Championship	01
2016 European Netball Championship	01
2017 European Netball Championship	01
2019 European Netball Championship	01

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Notable players

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 26) 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) London Pulse Imogen Allison WD, C (1998-04-24) 24 April 1998 (age 26) 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) Manchester Thunder Eleanor Cardwell GS, GA (1994-11-11) 11 November 1994 (age 30) 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) Melbourne Mavericks Amy Carter C, WD (1998-10-28) 28 October 1998 (age 26) 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) Manchester Thunder Funmi Fadoju GD, GK, WD (2002-08-15) 15 August 2002 (age 22) 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in) London Pulse Sasha Glasgow GA, GS (1998-07-19) 19 July 1998 (age 26) 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) Melbourne Mavericks Helen Housby GA, GS (1995-01-19) 19 January 1995 (age 29) 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in) New South Wales Swifts Hannah Joseph WA, C (1994-02-08) 8 February 1994 (age 30) 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in) Loughborough Lightning Natalie Metcalf WA, GA (1992-12-09) 9 December 1992 (age 32) 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in) Manchester Thunder Berri Neil GA, GS (2003-02-12)12 February 2003 (aged 20) 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) London Pulse Jayda Pechova GD, GK (2004-08-21) 21 August 2004 (age 20) 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) Team Bath Razia Quashie GK, GD (1997-09-16) 16 September 1997 (age 27) 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Saracens Mavericks Ellie Rattu C, WD (2000-04-04) 4 April 2000 (age 24) 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) Saracens Mavericks Alicia Scholes WA, C (2001-05-08) 8 May 2001 (age 23) 1.63 m (5 ft 4 in) London Pulse Olivia Tchine GS (2000-11-22) 22 November 2000 (age 24) 1.91 m (6 ft 3 in) London Pulse Fran Williams (c) GD, GK, WD (1997-12-23) 23 December 1997 (age 27) 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) West Coast Fever	Head coach Jess Thirlby Assistant coach Liana Leota Notes (c) – Captain (cc) – Co-captain (vc) – Vice-captain – Injury / maternity leave (TRP) – Temporary Replacement Player
Player profiles: Team website	Last updated: 24 March 2024

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Notable past players

England Netball's Hall of Fame

The following England netball internationals have been inducted into England Netball's Hall of Fame.

Sources:

Tournament winning captains

2018 Commonwealth Games gold medallists

The following England netball internationals were members of the squad that won the gold medal at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. At the 2018 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Awards, they were also named Team of the Year.

Head coaches

Honours

• 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
  • 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