The rise of England Netball: from underdogs to contenders
For decades England’s netball team stood in the shadows of powerhouses like Australia and New Zealand.
Last week, however, the Vitality Roses jumped to second place in the World Netball Rankings, overtaking New Zealand.
England’s recent 2-1 series victory over the Silver Ferns to claim the Taini Jamison Trophy highlights their evolution into serious contenders on the international stage.
This was only the second time the Vitality Roses have triumphed in said competition, their first win coming in 2021. Notably, this latest victory also signifies a historic milestone for England – the first time they secured a test series in New Zealand within the opening two games.
The triumph came on the heels of a challenging campaign in Australia. While England lost the series 2-1, their singular victory was significant, marking the first time they defeated the Diamonds in Australia since 2018.
The Aussies are still ranked in first place, but the gap is undoubtedly narrowing.
The Changing Tide
Australia and New Zealand have historically dominated the international scene. Since the Netball World Cup began in 1963, one of them has claimed every title, with the exception of 1979, when Trinidad and Tobago shared the championship in a rare three-way tie.
England’s record against both nations is pretty dire. Just 9 victories out of 90 tests against Australia and a mere 19 wins from 115 encounters with New Zealand. However, recent years have signalled a significant shift in this dynamic. Against New Zealand in particular, England have won 9 of their last 14 encounters.
Runners-up at the 2023 World Cup, England have demonstrated their growing ability to compete at the highest level. The 2018 Commonwealth Games marked a pivotal moment, as they beat Australia to become only the third team in history to not only reach the final but also take home gold. The Vitality Roses subsequently became the first team outside of the traditional powerhouses to break into the top two rankings.
In fact, the Australia-England clash is becoming increasingly common as New Zealand’s dominance wanes.
What’s changed?
England’s progression in recent years is testament to the growing investment and focus on the sport. Vitality, the team’s title partner doubled its funding in 2023, marking the largest ever brand investment in the history of English netball. Meanwhile, Sport England ramped up its funding in 2022 to £21.28 million over five years.
As a result, English netball has flourished, which also reflects the growth of women’s sport in the UK in general.
Investment is one thing but it’s the on-court moments that truly have the power to inspire. The one that sticks out came in 2018, when Helen Housby’s last second shot clinched gold at the Commonwealth Games.
This nail-biting victory not only captured the hearts of fans – it earned the BBC Sports Personality Greatest Sporting Moment of the Year, outshining even the men’s football team’s World Cup shootout win.
The Vitality Roses were crowned Team of the Year, but more significant was the impact felt at grassroots level. Within six months, participation soared, with over 130,000 people joining the sport.
Silver Ferns decline
New Zealand on the other hand, have gone in the opposite direction. Since winning the Netball World Cup in 2019 they have struggled to maintain their dominance.
A bronze finish at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and a fourth-place finish in the 2023 World Cup – their lowest ever – mark a worrying trend. What’s more, Jamaica outperformed them in both tournaments and are also gaining on them in the world rankings.
Players are barred from competing in foreign domestic leagues while remaining eligible for Silver Ferns selection. This rule will cost New Zealand one of their brightest stars, Grace Nweke from 2025. The 22-year-old has signed with the Sydney-based New South Wales Swifts, sacrificing her eligibility for the national team.
“I didn’t see any other club in New Zealand being able to tick those boxes for me in terms of growing my game and developing,” Nweke told NZME.
In contrast, Australia and England players can freely play abroad. For England stars, including Helen Housby, Eleanor Cardwell and Fracesca Williams, Australia’s Suncorp Super Netball League has become a common destination.
New Zealand, meanwhile, is struggling to retain their top talent, as they retire or move overseas. As a void is left, replacing retired stars has proven difficult. England, by contrast, is very much focused on the future with strong player pathway programmes.
The road ahead
English netball is thriving, but the work is far from done. Head coach Jess Thirlby was quoted by England Netball: “we know we have some way to go to become world number one and are committed and motivated more than ever to reach that goal.”
For one thing, many players still juggle netball will other careers. London Pulse player Zara Everitt, for example, is also a Trainee Solicitor.
However, the relaunch of the Netball Super League (NSL) in 2025 offers hope for change.
Launching in March, NSL 2.0 will feature eight teams, down from ten. This new era is a major step towards professionalisation, promising bigger venues, more competitive games, higher pay and improved matchday experiences.
Until then, fans can enjoy the FAST5 Netball World Series from 9 to 10 November. Plus, the Vitality Roses will take on Jamaica in Manchester on 16 and 17 November – their first matches as world number two, and another step towards their ultimate goal of becoming number one.
