Netball Super League | Catching up with Nottingham Forest Netball’s Rhea Dixon as she makes her international debut

Photo by Ben Lumley

New recruit for Nottingham Forest Netball in their inaugural Netball Super League season, Sunshine Girl Rhea Dixon made her debut for Jamaica in the opening game of the Vitality Netball Horizon Series last weekend. With Jamaican and English heritage, Rhea has family in both countries who watched on with pride as she took to court and represented Jamaica. We caught up with Rhea ahead of the first match to reflect on her journey to this point and how her dual heritage makes this series all the more special.

Hi Rhea, we’re talking to you today ahead of the opening weekend of the Vitality Netball Horizon Series, so first of all, how excited are you to take to court and represent Jamaica?

I can’t believe it’s actually happening. It’s [something that has] been in the process for a while and the opportunity to play and represent Jamaica with these amazing players in England and Jamaica will just be an unreal opportunity. And, to be able to play for my family, because the first games are in England, so my English family are going to watch that and then my Jamaican family are going to be supporting over there so, yeah I’m really, really happy.

As we’ve touched on there, you’ve previously described your family’s country of origin as Jamaican / English. Can you tell us a little bit more about how your dual heritage might have shaped your experiences growing up in netball or more broadly?

I think overall it’s just been amazing to be able to have the best of both. When you come to Jamaica, you realise that in England I am definitely seen as Black whereas when I go to Jamaica, you kind of realise how British you are at the same time. So it has been an interesting realisation. So I guess growing up I have identified a lot with my Jamaican side but being able to come over and be involved and represent the country has just really enforced that for me.

You first represented Jamaica in the 2023 FAST5 Netball World Series. How proud did you feel to be able to step out on court and represent both sides of your family’s heritage?

It was amazing. When I stood and sung the anthem, that was when it really sunk in. [These are] Moments you only dream of when you’re growing up. So to be able to stand there and represent the country that I’m so proud to represent was just amazing and I can’t wait to do it again.

And your family must also be so proud of your achievements, what does it mean to them that you’re able to represent Jamaica on the international stage?

My mum just can’t contain herself, she’s just so excited. She’s just so, so proud, and my brother [is] as well. Everyone is just so excited for me. Everyone goes through ups and downs, but to be able to see where the hard work can get you and the dedication and commitment to actually be able to reach the top of the game is just beyond a dream.

This is the inaugural Vitality Netball Horizon Series, a brand-new four-year home and away series between England and Jamaica. How important is it for world netball that we have this new and exciting series locked in for the next four years?

I think to deepen the rivalry even more is going to be so great for spectators to watch. But also, for the standard of netball, obviously a lot of the girls in Jamaica play overseas but for the girls who don’t play overseas and don’t get a lot of opportunity in this high level competition, it’s really good to help develop that depth and create the new ones [players] that are going to keep coming through.

I think also for Jamaica not really getting to host much international netball, for the crowds, for the fans over there and hopefully for the broadcast and everything, it’ll really improve, because we do struggle with lack of resources… it’s amazing to see where we’ve got to without all of that. So, by bringing games and by bringing this series hopefully it’ll just create more of a buzz and more visibility and give us what we deserve.

Photo by Ben Lumley

And having the Vitality Netball Horizon Series shown live across BBC Sport will hugely boost that visibility, how great is it for netball that fans will be able to watch these games free-to-air?

It’s amazing – someone stopped me in the hotel on the weekend and was asking what we’re doing and where we’re playing and he was asking me ‘can I watch it?’ and I could say ‘yeah it’s on BBC’! It’s brilliant that we’ve been given the backing and the visibility, and hopefully it’ll just bring in more and more fans and they’ll get to see the spectacle it’ll be.

And finally, we’ve touched on the rivalry on the court, but England and Jamaica are two countries that also share a lot of history off the court too. We can see that this has been celebrated in the lead up to the series, in particular with the naming of the trophy after Molly Rhone and Jean Hornsby, two individuals who have both shaped and influenced the game immeasurably across the two nations. Why is it so important that we celebrate this shared history with the Netball Family?

When we celebrate that connection, it really gives recognition to people that have come from Jamaica, sacrificed so much and moved their whole lives, their whole families, to be able to, I guess, make this country better. And obviously not everyone was treated as they should have been coming over and people still aren’t treated as they should be so if we can just do this one thing through netball, hopefully it gives recognition to the people who have done that – like my grandparents who came over in the Windrush generation and just came over to make a better life and to help the country improve. It is great to be able to give Molly and Jean the recognition they deserve, and all other women of Black British and Jamaican heritage something to celebrate. I feel honoured to be competing for something very special indeed.

NSL fans can watch the second two games in the series which will be played in Kingston, Jamaica at 23:30 GMT on Monday 25 November and 00:00 GMT on Wednesday 27 November. Both games will be broadcast live on BBC iPlayer and the BBC Sport website and app, and international viewers can watch on NetballPass.