The Netball World Cup is around the corner and the big teams will be looking to continue their dominance in the competition.
However, some teams will be hoping to improve and gain more knowledge and skill as they take to the court. There may be some favourites in the different pools but the underdogs are also looking to make a name for themselves.
England
England has played in all Netball World Cup competitions since 1963. They hosted the last edition, in 2019 in Liverpool, where they took the bronze medal. This was the Roses' sixth third-place finish, while they have also gotten silver once at the 1975 edition. Their worst finish in the competition is fourth, which they last achieved in 2007.
Coach: Jess Thirlby
Jess Thirlby took over the Vitality Roses head coach position in 2019. Before the major appointment, she had already led other national teams including the England Under-17 and Under-19 teams between 2004 and 2005. She was also the head coach of England Under-21 as well as the assistant coach during two Netball World Youth Cups.
She led the team to a fourth-place position at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and will be hoping to steer the team to a podium finish in Cape Town.
Malawi
The Malawi Queens have played at six Netball World Cups, with their highest-place finish coming at the 2007 edition held in New Zealand, where they finished in fifth place. Malawi will be hoping to improve from their sixth-place finish from the last edition of the competition.
Malawi had an incredible run in the Africa Netball World Cup qualifiers, they only lost to the Spar Proteas in the competition. Over the years, the team has produced great players such as Joyce Mvula, Towera Vinkhumbo, Caroline Mtukule and Takondwa Lwazi who have gone on to play in leagues outside of the country.
Coach: Sam Kanyenda
Sam Kanyenda will lead the Malawi Queens in Cape Town in his position as the team’s technical director. He was appointed as the Technical Director of Netball in May 2020. He will guide the Queens and is temporarily in charge of the head coach position.
Scotland
The Scottish Thistles have participated in every Netball World Cup since it was launched in 1963, except in the 2011 edition held in Singapore. They failed to qualify that year. This side is yet to win the competition and their best finish is sixth in 1983, 1975 and 1971 editions. The 2023 edition will be the side’s 15th appearance in the global tournament.
The Scottish Thistles hosted the Europe leg of the Netball World Cup qualifiers, where they qualified in second place, losing only to Wales on the last day of competition in Glasgow.
Coach: Tamsin Greenway
Tamsin Greenway took over the reins in 2021. Before being appointed as head coach of the Scottish Thistles, Tamsin Greenway had been at the helm of the Under-21 Roses side that competed in the 2017 edition of the Netball World Youth Cup in Botswana. The former Roses player will be hoping to get the Thistles to secure a top-10 position in Cape Town to improve on their 11th-place finish from the 2019 edition.
Barbados
Barbados have played in nine World Cup tournaments. Their first appearance was in the 1979 edition in the Port of Spain 1979 in Trinidad, where they finished in eighth place. Cape Town will mark their 10th competition. The Bajan Gems’ highest finish was in sixth place at the 1987 edition in Glasgow. They hope to better their finish in Cape Town after they ended in 12th in the last edition.
The Bajan Gems finished in third place in the Americas qualifiers to book a place for Cape Town. Goal attack and goal shooter Latonia Blackman will play in her sixth World Cup tournament after she made her debut at the age of 17 in the 1999 edition in New Zealand. She has represented the Gems for over 25 years. Commonwealth gold medallist Kadeen Corbin and sister Sasha will play for Barbados at this year's Netball World Cup. They previously played in the England Roses colours.
Coach: Denise Alleyne
Denise Alleyne will lead the Bajan Gems in Cape Town. She is no stranger to the national team, she also led the Junior Gems in competitions such as the Caribbean Games where they finished with a silver medal at the 2022 edition.
She was also the coach of the national junior basketball team.