Netball Super League | Scottish Thistles squad features plethora of VNSL players

Tamsin Greenway is Head Coach of Scottish Thistles.

Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL) players make up the majority of the Tamsin Greenway’s latest Scottish Thistles squad recently announced by Netball Scotland.

The Scottish side are the last to confirm their full squad for the upcoming International Training Matches between themselves, Northern Ireland and Wales this weekend.

Of the 15-strong squad, 11 were included in 2021 teams while the likes of Claire Maxwell and Kelly Boyle have also featured in the Superleague in previous season. In total, two VNSL clubs – Strathclyde Sirens and Wasps – have been represented.

Notably, this is the first senior call-up for defender Hannah Leighton – who impressed so heavily against Manchester Thunder in May – and the aforementioned Maxwell’s first inclusion since the 2021 Sirens coach took a break after having a child.

The full Scottish squad is as follows:

Caitlin Pringle
Rachel Conway
Emily Nicholl
Sarah MacPhail
Hannah Leighton
Rebecca Edgar
Laura Burton
Nicola McCleery
Kelly Boyle
Claire Maxwell
Cerys Cairns
Bethan Goodwin
Niamh McCall
Lynsey Gallagher
Emma Barrie

Scottish Thistles Head Coach, Greenway, said: “I’m really happy with the quality and focus of the squad as we head into our first competition since 2019.

“Players that have shone through VNSL have brought that form back into the Thistles environment, alongside the emerging talent who are ready to show just what they can do.”

CONGRATS👏
Well done to our amazing Scottish Sirens players 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿selected for training matches with @netballni and @WelshNetball

Make sure you are following them on Instagram @scottishthistles for all the BTS content over the weekend!!!#powerofscotland https://t.co/esYwF94V9o

— Strathclyde Sirens (@SirensNetball) August 17, 2021

It will also be the first time coaching duo Tamsin Greenway and Sara Francis-Bayman take charge of the team since the latter was appointed as Assistant Coach last week.

Scotland face Northern Ireland and Wales – who also heavily feature VNSL talent – in Glasgow between Friday 20 August and Sunday 22 August at the Emirates Arena and will see each of the three Celtic nations compete against one another in their first run out as national sides since 2019.

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