Netball Super League | Netball Super League legend Nia Jones announces her retirement from elite netball

Netball Super League (NSL) legend and Welsh Feathers captain Nia Jones has announced her retirement from elite netball after a remarkable career which saw her make over 100 NSL appearances.

Jones, who in round two of the 2024 season marked a milestone 100 NSL appearances, has played for three clubs across her NSL career and has been a leading figure both on and off the court throughout.

100 not out 💯

Today’s appearance marked @cardiffdragons_ captain and NSL legend @niajones92‘s 100th appearance in the Netball Super League

Congratulations Nia on an incredible achievement 👏 pic.twitter.com/GqSpc4iFt3

— Netball Super League (@NetballSL) February 23, 2024

Debuting for Celtic Dragons, now known as the LexisNexis Cardiff Dragons, in 2013 Jones became synonymous with the Welsh club, whilst also completing memorable stints at Severn Stars and Leeds Rhinos.

A natural leader who always provides a relentless battle on court, Jones was vice-captain of Severn Stars in 2021 in her first full season at the club after Covid-19 curtailed the 2020 NSL season. She then went on to captain Celtic Dragons in 2022 and Leeds Rhinos in 2023, demonstrating her outstanding leadership capabilities and the respect these garnered across the League.

What vision from @cardiffdragons_‘ @niajones92 👀

💥 A HUGE ball into her shooter means another point on the board for the visitors. #NSL2024 | #SeeUsNow pic.twitter.com/wT7wQ0PV35

— Netball Super League (@NetballSL) May 11, 2024

Sparkling performances on the domestic stage also built into a legendary international career for Jones, who has represented Wales in both netball and football. As captain, she led the Welsh Feathers to a ninth-place finish at the 2023 Netball World Cup. She has also competed at three Commonwealth Games with Wales, where she truly made her mark on the international scene.

Hailed by her teammates as a passionate and influential leader both on and off the court, Nia was one of the key voices from the NSL who took part in the #SeeUsNow video series in the 2024 season. Nia opened up on a range of topics from female health to body image, and also provided NSL fans with an insight into the sacrifices elite athletes make to reach the top of their game when discussing how she juggled her dual international career in both netball and football.

Sunday morning sorted ☕

🛋️ Catch up on the sofa with the latest episodes of the #SeeUsNow series focusing on appearance and having it all.

Tap to watch now over on the NSL YouTube channel ⬇️

— Netball Super League (@NetballSL) May 19, 2024

Reflecting on her career, Jones said: “I have been blessed to work with a wide range of people over the years, all of whom have taught me invaluable things about netball and about leadership. I have learnt most of what I know about life from my netball experiences, and I firmly believe I wouldn’t be where I am today without their guidance and feedback.”

She added: “The beauty of sport is that athletes invest all this time and energy, with no real guarantee of it ever paying off or us ever fulfilling our dreams, but honestly mine were exceeded.”

A truly inspiring athlete with her trademark relentless energy and motivation on and beyond the court, Nia’s contributions to the NSL have been monumental and have left a lasting impact on fans, teammates and the League itself.

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