Netball Super League | Umpires appointed for 2025 NSL season

With the relaunch of the Netball Super League (NSL), we’re excited to introduce the 2025 umpiring pool featuring both new and familiar faces.

As part of the league’s move towards professionalisation, the competition’s umpiring pool has been streamlined from 20 to 12. This change aims to enhance consistency in officiating and provide umpires with increased match experience throughout the season.

Name	Region	NSL Match Appearances
Alison Harrison IUA	Wales	103 including one Grand Final appearance
Caswell Palmer IUA	North West	24
Emma Parker	London & South East	10
Gary Burgess IUA	East	261 including 15 Grand Final appearances
Kate Mann IUA	East Midlands	98 including one Grand Final appearance
Lizzie Saunby IUA	East Midlands	26
Louise Cole IUA	South West	46
Louise Travis IUA	East	216 including five Grand Final appearances
Megan Elliott ITID	South	33
Nathan Begley IUA	London & South East	Debut season (56 Suncorp Super Netball appearances including one Grand Final appearance )
Rhian Edwards IUA	Wales	73
Sophia Wilson ITID	North East	8
Natalie Gregan ITID (Reserve)	North West	37
Rachael Radford ITID (Reserve)	Yorkshire	90

James Thomas is taking a leave of absence for the 2025 season.

The league’s relaunch also introduces new rules for umpires to adapt to, including the Super Shot and tactical timeouts. To ensure they are well-prepared, umpires have been attending pre-season fixtures across the country, as well as a dedicated performance camp at Loughborough University. The camp focused on refining key areas of the game and delivering consistent officiating guidance.

Returning for his 20th season, Head of Officiating and NSL umpire Gary Burgess shared his thoughts: “We have all been working so hard in pre-season to ensure we are ready to take on the new challenges that will come with the newest changes to the Netball Super League. I am so proud of the hard work the umpires and Assessors have put in both in my capacity as Head of Officiating but also as an on-court colleague. We have reduced the pool of umpires with the idea of less umpires, umpiring more to increase consistency and on-court exposure. The introduction of the NXT Gen League means that we have a really strong group of umpires in both pools, with consistent assessment, which is fantastic when we look at succession planning.”

A new addition to the NSL’s umpiring pool is umpire Nathan Begley, who previously officiated in the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN), including umpiring the 2020 SSN Grand Final. On joining the NSL, he commented:

“I’m excited for the opportunities that umpiring in the NSL will bring, particularly the chance to umpire different teams and styles of play. It’s a privilege to be welcomed into the umpiring squad at such an exciting time for the league, and I look forward to contributing to the season ahead.”

The 2025 NSL season promises exciting developments both on and off the court, and with this experienced umpiring panel, fans can expect a high standard of officiating throughout the competition.

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