Netball Super League | Deadline Day

The Vitality Netball Superleague signing window has now closed.

After a frantic day of signings where we have seen new faces added to the league, players moving between franchises and the re-signing of fan favourites focus now switches to pre-season where each side will be looking to hone their craft as we head toward the 2021 season.

The league newcomers Leeds Rhinos started the day with the addition of highly rated Donnell Wallam. Making the move from West Coast Warriors, the shooter has a growing reputation in the game and will be a real threat in the shooting circle as Rhinos take to the Superleague court for the first time.

Wallam highlighted head Coach Dan Ryan as a key figure in her move from Australia, “I felt I needed to get the on-court exposure at the next level and to be able to learn from a shooting specialist coach in Dan Ryan really helped my decision to join the Rhinos”

Thunder were hot on their heels and announced the exciting trio if Amy Cartrer, Eleanor Cardwell and Laura Malcolm. All three players are currently, in New Zealand playing a three-match test series for the Vitality Roses against the Silver Ferns.

Not to be outdone Wasps followed up with an international signing of their own as they add Gezzelle Allison to their attack. Head Coach Mel Mansfield commented “I am delighted to announce that we have secured Gezelle -a new International talent for Jamaica who gained her first international caps in the Nation’s cup in January this year. The 6ft, dual basketball and netball player brings Jamaican flair, power, strength and shooting accuracy and we are thrilled to welcome her to the black and gold of Wasps. She brings something fresh, new and exciting to our attacking line-up.”

Celtic Dragons had space in their squad as we entered the final day of the window and made the most of it in retaining the services of the highly-rated Rebekah Robinson. Robinson made her Superleague debut for Celtic Dragons last year and first featured in Dragons’ storming 2019 Fast5 All-Stars campaign. She then went on to feature in Dragons’ three 2020 Superleague fixtures.

Loughborough Lightning revealed that fan favourite Lauren Nicholls and Hannah Joseph would return to the side in 2021. “It’s a really good squad coming together, so it’s good to see so many familiar faces from last season. I’m just really looking forward to getting back playing and seeing what we can do in the league,” Nicholls said.

Strathclyde Sirens announced that Bethany Dix had made the move north after leaving Wasps netball and again, it was an inspirational coach who helped make up her mind, Dix said, “What made me want to move to Sirens was the ethos and the competitiveness within the squad to always strive to do better. The opportunity to work with Karen Atkinson, who’s a world-renowned wing attack”

Severn Stars have announced their squad for the 2021 Vitality Netball Superleague season, with Liana Leota returning as captain and Nia Jones as vice-captain. “Everyone will look at this squad and say that it’s the same, and that’s because it is. I am really pleased to be able to have kept this squad together again,” Bessell told Sky Sports.

Surrey Storm announced the signing of Northern Ireland Goal Attacker Emma Magee and that Katie Wells would be returning to the club. When discussing the signing of Magee, Mikki Austin commented, “we are delighted to welcome Emma in to the duck egg blue colours for 2021. The Northern Ireland international Goal Attacker had a fantastic showing at the Netball World Cup in 2019 and showed she can deal with the pressure from some of the world’s best defenders.”

Reigning champions Manchester Thunder had a busy day as they announced five training partners (Alicia Scholes, Ella Standring, Emilia Roscoe, Millie Sanders and Elia McCormick), Loreen Ngwira, Joyce Mvula and the exciting Vitality Rose trio of Amy Carter, Eleanor Cardwell and Laura Malcolm.

On re-signing for Thunder Carter said, “I’m delighted to re-sign for my home team. We were so disappointed not to be able to see out the 2020 campaign which we had such high hopes for. So it is great to retain a good element of the squad to take it forward to the 2021 season”

The day ended with fan favourite Rachel Dunn being announced by Wasps.“Going into my 16th season I think this will be one of the most anticipated and exciting ones yet! After an unprecedented 2020 with many players having not taken to the court in a league match for 11 months, by the time the start of the competition arrives, players will be raring to go. Our goal for the season will be to regain our title. With myself and many other founding players still around at Wasps, I am looking forward to seeing what our exciting new additions can offer. Bring on 2021!”

Team Bath have been granted an extension to announce their signings, details can be found here. Severn Stars, Celtic Dragons, Leeds Rhinos and Surrey Storm have all also been granted an extension to announce an additional player and they will be announced in due course.

You can find all the squads for 2021 here