Lightning players selected for Vitality Roses

Hannah Joesph

Hannah Joesph in action for Lightning.

Six Loughborough Lightning players have been selected in the latest Vitality Roses squad, including a first senior international call-up for Alice Harvey.

Harvey is joined in the England set-up by Hannah Joseph, Francesca Williams, Beth Cobden, Emma Thacker and Natalie Panagarry for the upcoming series versus Uganda, Australia, and New Zealand (FAST5). 

Returning to international action for the first time since the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, the Vitality Roses will step back on to court in front of a home crowd against the world-ranked sixth side Uganda on 5 October at Nottingham's Motorpoint Arena, and on 8 and 9 October at The Copper Box Arena in London.

Commenting on the upcoming fixtures, Vitality Roses Head Coach Jess Thirlby said:

“To have so many opportunities against world-class opposition so soon after the Commonwealth Games allows us to quickly turn our attention to the exciting year ahead.

“Now, more than ever the margins between the top nations are at their narrowest, making for a very dynamic and competitive landscape for the global game. The competition is fierce, and to get opportunities to expose new and emerging talent as well as our existing players is critical in helping to strengthen the team, and for us to continue to uncover and gain advantage over our toughest opposition.”

Speaking about the Uganda series, Thirlby added:

“We were really pleased how well we dealt to the challenge of Uganda at the Commonwealth Games. However, Uganda went on to find some of their best form in Birmingham, beating South Africa and gaining automatic qualification for the World Cup in 2023. They will be full of confidence, and we are under no illusion as to how competitive the three matches will be. With both next year and the longer term in mind, it provides a perfect test of a new-look Roses side, full of exciting talent to embrace and we will be buoyed to have the support of our home fans.”

Following the Uganda series, the Roses fly to Australia for the first time since 2018 to face the Commonwealth Games champions in a three-match international series.

“To play the world number one team and Commonwealth Games champions on their home soil is something we’ve been keen to do ever since Covid hijacked our plans back in the autumn of 2020,” said Thirlby.

On 5 and 6 November, a squad of ten players will then take part in the FAST5 Netball World Series in New Zealand – a shorter, faster-paced version of the game with five players on each side.

Jess Thirlby added: “The return of FAST5 is a welcome addition to our international calendar as world netball look to strengthen the breadth of the game and its appeal. For us, it affords further opportunity to expose new and emerging talent to the conditions of international netball and will help accelerate some key learnings for those younger athletes who have recently missed out on a World Youth Cup due to Covid and those on the periphery of the team narrowly missing out on selection for recent senior events.”

Vitality Roses Squad to face the Uganda She Cranes

Name

Club

Position

Imogen Allison

Team Bath Netball

WD, C

Eleanor Cardwell

Adelaide Thunderbirds

GA, GS

Sophie Drakeford-Lewis

Surrey Storm

GA, WA

Zara Everitt

London Pulse

GD, WD

Funmi Fadoju

London Pulse

GD, GK, WD

Alice Harvey

Loughborough Lightning*

GK, GD

Hannah Joseph

Loughborough Lightning*

WA, C

Laura Malcolm

Trident Homes Tactix

WD, C, WA

Natalie Panagarry

Loughborough Lightning*

C, WD

Natasha Pavelin

Team Bath

GD, GK, WD

Chelsea Pitman

London Pulse

WA

Ellie Rattu

London Pulse

C, WD

Paige Reed

Leeds Rhinos

GS, GA

Olivia Tchine

London Pulse

GS, GA

Francesca Williams

Loughborough Lightning*

GD, GK

Vitality Roses Squad to face the Australian Diamonds

Name

Club

Position

Imogen Allison

Team Bath Netball

WD, C

Eleanor Cardwell

Adelaide Thunderbirds (Australia)

GA, GS

Jade Clarke

London Pulse

C, WD

Beth Cobden

Loughborough Lightning*

WD, C

Sophie Drakeford-Lewis

Surrey Storm

GA, WA

Funmi Fadoju

London Pulse

GD, GK, WD

Layla Guscoth

Surrey Storm

GD, GK

Jo Harten

Giants Netball* (Australia)

GS, GA

Alice Harvey

Loughborough Lightning*

GK, GD

Helen Housby

NSW Swifts (Australia)

GA, GS

Hannah Joseph

Loughborough Lightning*

WA, C

Laura Malcolm

Trident Homes Tactix (New Zealand)

WD, C, WA

Geva Mentor

Collingwood Magpies (Australia)

GK, GD

Natalie Metcalf

Manchester Thunder

WA, GA

Olivia Tchine

London Pulse

GS, GA

Francesca Williams

Loughborough Lightning

GD, GK

Vitality Roses Squad to compete at the FAST5 Netball World Series Name

Name

Club

Position

Zara Everitt

London Pulse

GD/WD

Elle McDonald**

Leeds Rhinos

C/WA/WD

Taylor McKevitt

Manchester Thunder

C/WD

Natasha Pavelin

Team Bath

GD/GK/WD

Lois Pearson

Manchester Thunder

GA/WA

Jayda Pechova

Team Bath

GD/GK

Ellie Rattu

London Pulse

C/WD

Paige Reed

Leeds Rhinos

GA/GS

Alicia Scholes

London Pulse

C/WA

Emma Thacker

Loughborough Lightning*

GA/GS