Netball Super League | Stacey Francis – Featured Player of the Week

After spending 10 years as a member of Team Bath, Birmingham-born Stacey Francis has joined Yorkshire Jets for the 2016 season as their captain.

Francis had been a member of the Bath line-up since the age of 16, making her the franchise’s longest serving player.

In her time at Bath she won five Superleague titles, Superleague player of the year in 2011 and 2013, and more than 50 England caps along the way.

She’s a specialist defender and plays all three defensive positions.

After being named player of the season in the 2011 Superleague, Francis moved to the ANZ Championship with EasiYo Tactix (formerly Canterbury Tactix) in 2012, but her time overseas was hampered by injury.

A move back to Team Bath for the 2013 season provided the defender with a welcome return to Superleague action with another player of the season award plus another NSL title to her name.

During the 2015 Superleague season, Francis picked up a knee injury in March and was forced to miss the remainder of the season.

Showing true determination, she worked hard to come back from the articular cartilage damage to be fit in time to play a crucial role in England’s 2015 World Cup bid, and take home a bronze medal.

She now leads Yorkshire Jets onto court in the 2016 Superleague following on from their best ever season in which they finished an impressive third.

Francis is leading by example in this brand new Jets side – and after pushing Manchester Thunder so close in Round 7 the season is looking as though it’s on the up!