Netball Super League | Northern Ireland name Vitality Netball Superleague players in World Cup Squad

Northern Ireland are the latest side to name their squad for the Vitality Netball World Cup in Liverpool this summer.

Head Coach Dan Ryan, who also acts as an assistant coach for Manchester Thunder, has named the 12 players who will be pulling on their nation’s dress in July.

Vitality Netball Superleague champion Caroline O’Hanlon has been named as captain. This comes at the end of an impressive season where she received the Player of the Month Award for March and helped Thunder pick up their third Vitality Netball Superleague title.

O’Hanlon has competed at the two previous World Cups (2003 in Kingston and 2011 in Singapore) and will be looking to help her country to their best-ever finish (7th in 1983).

London Pulse’s Fionnuala Toner has also made the squad and been named as vice-captain. Toner finished with the most interceptions for London Pulse across the regular season and featured in all 18 games.

Saracens Mavericks will also be represented with Michelle Drayne included. The 30-year-old centre/wing attack from Lisburn has 58 caps for the national side and featured at the Gold Coast and Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

Drayne’s call-up means that so far nine of the ten Vitality Netball Superleague sides will be represented at the Vitality Netball World Cup this year.

Northern Ireland will start their campaign on Friday 12th July when they take on current world champions Australia.

Northern Ireland will also face Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in their group.

You can view the full World Cup schedule here.

Make sure you’re following @NetballSL on Twitter for updates on how our Vitality Netball Superleague stars are getting on at the Vitality Netball World Cup!