International Series: What’s to come in January?

Wales vs Uganda

The first test series to kick off this jam packed month of netball is Wales vs Uganda. Taking place across three days, (10, 12, 13 January), at the House of Sport in Cardiff, Uganda will see this as a chance to prepare for the Vitality Netball Nations Cup which will take place later on in the month.

With big names lined up for Wales such as Nia Jones, Ella Powell-Davies, Phillipa Yarranton, and Bethan Dyke, they will be guiding those of young and new talent such as Caris Morgan, Ellen Morgan and Megan Pilkington. With four NSL clubs representing in Wales this week, from Cardiff Dragons to Team Bath, you can see all the excitement and build up on their social media channels, @WalesNetball_.

Uganda also have a strong side for Wales to compete against, with fan favourite, 2023 Gilbert Top Scorer and league winner with Loughborough Lightning, Mary Cholhok and new Surrey Storm signing Haniisha Muhameed N.

Peace Proscovia might not be taking to court this time round, however, Uganda have been smart to give her a role in the coaching team for these two series. The NSL icon will be taking the role of Assistant Coach in January, whilst also keeping touch with Surrey Storm ahead of the 2024 season.

You can see the squad in action for the first time in the test series against Wales which starts on Wednesday 10^th January. You can get your tickets here for all three test matches here.

To see full squads, you can find the Welsh Feathers here and the Ugandan She Cranes here.

Be sure to also follow the relevant social media channels to keep up to date with the tournament.

Vitality Netball Nations Cup

Four major teams, across four dates, battling for one trophy. The Vitality Netball Nations Cup is set to take place at the end of the month at the OVO Wembley Arena and Leeds First Direct Arena on 20, 21, 27 and 28 of January.

Amongst the Vitality Roses squad, Netball World Cup captain and Manchester Thunder skipper, Nat Metcalf makes her return to the squad after her extended break, whilst her new teammate Imogen Allison also comes back in the new year.

2023 season winner with Loughborough Lightning, Hannah Joseph will also feature in the squad, alongside former Lightning teammate Fran Williams, who has since left the franchise and heading to Australia to represent West Coast Fever in 2024.

One of Hello Magazine’s Rising Stars of 2024 and Fan’s Young Player of the Season 2023, London Pulse’s Berri Neil has also been called back to the squad after an impressive performance in December against South Africa.

Uganda’s squad remains unchanged following their series in Wales, hoping to impress the top three in the Netball World Rankings, as well as fans in arena and at home.

Tickets for the Vitality Netball Nations Cup are available to purchase at englandnetball.co.uk/tickets. Be sure to also follow the relevant social media channels to keep up to date with the tournament.

The full list of fixtures and timings are as follows: 

Saturday 20 January – OVO Arena Wembley, London 

Australia vs. New Zealand – 15:00 

England vs. Uganda – 17:00 

Sunday 21 January – OVO Arena Wembley, London 

New Zealand vs. Uganda – 14:00 

England vs. Australia – 16:00 

Saturday 27 January – First Direct Arena, Leeds 

Australia vs. Uganda – 15:00 

England vs. New Zealand – 17:00 

Sunday 28 January – First Direct Arena, Leeds 

Third-place play-off – 14:00 

Final – 16:15 

FCP = First Centre Pass 

NSL Pre-season Fixtures

With just over five weeks to go until the NSL2024 Season Opener, clubs have already had a taste as to what’s to come this season in terms of their opposition in some pre-season fixtures, and there’s even more on the way this month.

Surrey Storm will be in action against Saracens Mavericks at Surrey Sports Park on 13 January. The duck egg blue’s will host Mavericks at 18:00 in their second pre-season fixture of the year. After a strong performance against Team Bath earlier this month, Storm are looking at getting another pre-season win under their belt.

Leeds Rhinos will also be in action on 13 January against the Leeds Select team, hosted at Huddersfield University, with proceedings kicking off at 18:15. The first chance for fans to see the full squad in action, so not one to be missed!

A tri-tournament due to take place on 14 January against Team Bath, London Pulse and Severn Stars will sure be a spectacle of netball. Fans who have bought tickets can expect a day jam packed full of action, seeing all three teams take on one another down at the Team Bath Arena, with the day starting at 14:00. Tickets for this tri-tournament have now sold out.

Four teams will be in action on 27 January – Loughborough Lightning will take on Surrey Storm at 16:00 at home, whilst Saracens Mavericks are back in action against Strathclyde Sirens at Hertfordshire Sports Village with the FCP at 14:30.

To remind yourself of the new squads, you can read all about the 2024 transfers here.

Yet another month filled to the brim with netball, we are so excited to get this year underway.

To keep up with the latest news, make sure to follow the @NetballSL on Twitter, Instagram and TikTok and subscribe to our newsletter. 

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