Netball Super League | Chartie Curtis graduates to Team Bath VNSL squad

After captaining England U19 in Australia and being crowned as European Champion on her international U21 debut, rising star Chartie Curtis is set to make her Vitality Netball Superleague bow in 2019 after being named in the Team Bath Netball squad.

The talented defender, who is studying Economics at the University of Bath, was a Vitality Netball Superleague training partner with the Blue & Gold last season while also captaining Team Bath’s U21 squad in NPL competition.

A natural leader on court, she skippered her country at U19 level during this summer’s tour of Australia before making the step up to U21 level at Netball Europe in Northern Ireland last week, helping the Roses retain their title with three comprehensive victories against the other home nations.

Curtis made her first senior appearance for Team Bath in Saturday’s British Fast5 All-Stars Championships at London’s Copper Box Arena and is now turning her attention to the Vitality Netball Superleague campaign, starting in January.

“To actually be part of the Vitality Netball Superleague this season is special and really exciting,” said the 19-year-old.

“I was a training partner last year and it was really good to have that experience of getting to know the squad after moving away from home to a new club and a new university. Everyone has been so lovely and welcoming.

“We have some really, really big netball names here at Team Bath and to be able to train, play and develop alongside such experienced and knowledgeable players as Eboni Beckford-Chambers is a real honour. Ebs was so approachable last season, I could go to her any time for advice, and it’s nice to have people like that in the team.

“It’s been a bit of a mad 12 months but I have absolutely loved it. Captaining an England team is something I have always wanted to do and it was an amazing tour to Australia, we went there with goals and achieved most of them. I felt really proud to be involved with that.

“Then to come away with gold on my England U21 debut was pretty special. I was playing alongside girls who have been playing Superleague for years and I learnt so much from that experience, both on and off the court.”

Curtis is the third University of Bath student to be named in Team Bath’s Vitality Netball Superleague squad for 2019, joining Sport & Exercise Science student Imogen Allison and Integrated Mechanical & Electrical Engineering student Sophie Drakeford-Lewis.

Jess Thirlby, Team Bath Netball Head Coach, said: “It’s great to see Chartie graduate into the Vitality Netball Superleague from our U21s in just under a year of her being with the Blue & Gold family.

“While she has accumulated a lot of experience at age group level, it’s now time for her to thrive off the challenge and expectation that a senior Vitality Netball Superleague environment brings and she has made a great start to that already this season in training.

“Chartie is a talented defender with a natural ability to read the game and win ball. She will thrive when working alongside players such as Eboni and Serena Guthrie and it’s great to have her on board for the 2019 season.”

Tickets are now on sale for Super 10 – get your squad together and head to the season opener on Saturday 5th January 2019 at Arena Birmingham!