Netball Super League | Ten current VNSL stars selected for Scotland’s Commonwealth Games squad

The Scottish Thistles stand arm in arm to sing the National Anthem during the Netball Internationals match between Scottish Thistles and Bajan Gems at Emirates Arena, Glasgow, Scotland on 2 December 2021.

Netball Scotland has revealed its 12 strong squad to compete in the upcoming 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, with all 12 having competed in the Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL).

Strathclyde Sirens’ Claire Maxwell will bring her leadership experience to Team Scotland this summer as she takes on the captaincy role for Greenway’s side. Making her senior debut in 2009, Maxwell is no stranger to international multi-sport competition having been named in Scotland’s 2014 and 2018 Commonwealth squads.

“We are so excited as a collective to have been chosen to represent Team Scotland in the Commonwealth Games. To be named Captain of the Scottish Thistles is a real honour and I’m excited to lead such an exciting squad. This team is full of ambitious and driven athletes, and we are working hard to meet our aim of finishing within the top 8.”

At just 20 years old young shooting sensation Emma Barrie also receives a call up. Barrie became the youngest player to compete in the VNSL back in 2019 at just 17 years of age and in the same year took to court in the Netball World Cup. Having now firmly cemented her place in the Strathclyde Sirens mix she now looks forward to getting her first taste of Commonwealth Games Netball this summer.

Familiar face Lynsey Gallagher will return to the fold for the games after suffering injury in the 2021 VNSL season with Strathclyde Sirens and therefore missing out on the 2022 season.

Whilst Strathclyde Sirens boast a whopping nine of its players in the Team Scotland’s side, fellow VNSL clubs Wasps Netball and Celtic Dragons can also celebrate the announcement with ferocious mid-courter Iona Christian and defensive powerhouse Hannah Leighton also getting the nod.

Finishing her third season with Wasps in 2022, Christian will now gain the opportunity to perform on the international stage under a coach who successfully led her domestic side Wasps to back-to-back championship titles in 2017 and 2018.

In her first games as Head Coach, VNSL stalwart Tamsin Greenway says;

“Playing at the Commonwealth Games is a huge achievement and highlight for any international netballer, representing the Thistles and being part of Team Scotland is a very special moment and we look forward to seeing what we can achieve on and off the court.”

Greenway will be joined on the coaching bench with championship winning coach Sara Francis-Bayman who led Loughborough Lightning to their first title in 2021 and is no stranger to success having led the Vitality Roses as captain during her playing career.

Facing Australia in the first game, Greenway knows what her squad are up against;

“We are under no illusions of the challenges we will face in what is an extremely competitive group. The players are excited about the prospect and are pushing hard preparing for the competition.”

Full Scotland Squad:

Claire Maxwell (Captain)*
Emily Nicholl (Vice Captain)*
Lynsey Gallagher
Niamh McCall*
Emma Barrie*
Iona Christian*
Hannah Leighton*
Sarah MacPhail*
Lauren Tait
Rachel Conway*
Bethan Goodwin*
Kelly Boyle*

* Athletes who competed in the Vitality Netball Superleague 2022 season.