Vitality Roses Head Coach Jess Thirlby has selected a squad of 15 athletes to travel to South Africa in January next year to play a three-match test series.
The series against South Africa will be held on 29 and 31 January and 1 February in Johannesburg and will see the Vitality Roses take on world ranked number five, South Africa, in what will be England’s last international test matches before the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The Vitality Roses enter the series following two historic wins against the Jamaica Sunshine Girls in the 2025 Vitality Netball Horizon Series, which saw them lift the Rhone Hornsby Trophy for the first time. The 15-strong squad selected to travel to South Africa features 14 of the squad that lifted this trophy, including Jaz Brown who made her senior international debut against New Zealand in November and has been called back up to the squad for what will be her first overseas Vitality Roses tour.
Brown is joined by Natalie Metcalf, who took to court against Jamaica in December for the first time as a mother after giving birth to her daughter Miller in May 2025. The selection also sees Imogen Allison return to the squad, subject to fitness, following her recovery from an injury that saw her ruled out of both the Vitality Netball International Series against New Zealand and the Vitality Netball Horizon Series in 2025.
Vitality Roses squad:
| Name | Club | Position |
| Halimat Adio | London Pulse | GK, GD |
| Imogen Allison* | Queensland Firebirds (Australia) | C, WD |
| Jaz Brown | NIC Leeds Rhinos | GK |
| Eleanor Cardwell | Manchester Thunder | GS, GA |
| Amy Carter | Manchester Thunder | C, WD |
| Beth Cobden* | Loughborough Lightning | WD |
| Funmi Fadoju | London Pulse | GD, WD, GK |
| Sasha Glasgow** | West Coast Fever (Australia) | GS, GA |
| Helen Housby** | NSW Swifts (Australia) | GA, GS |
| Natalie Metcalf | Manchester Thunder | WA, GA |
| Lois Pearson | Manchester Thunder | GA, WA |
| Razia Quashie | London Mavericks | GK |
| Jess Shaw | Loughborough Lightning | WA, C |
| Liv Tchine | London Pulse | GS |
| Francesca Williams | West Coast Fever (Australia) | GD, GK, WD |
*Subject to fitness.
**Available for ranking test matches against South Africa only.
Vitality Roses Head Coach Jess Thirlby commented: “This series in South Africa is a really important step for us as we continue to build towards the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games. Facing a world-class side like South Africa away from home will provide a valuable challenge and an opportunity to test ourselves. As our final 180 minutes of international netball together before the Games this summer, it’s a key opportunity to reinforce our standards, assess our progress and gain clarity in a high-performance competition environment.
“We’re pleased to name a squad that retains much of the group that delivered a record-breaking result against World No.3 Jamaica, while also welcoming back players who have worked hard to earn their opportunities. Jaz’s continued development, Nat’s return to international netball and Imogen’s progress back from injury reflect the depth, competition and resilience within this playing group.”
More information on broadcast plans for the series against South Africa will be shared in due course.
South Africa vs England Test Series Schedule
Thursday 29 January – Johannesburg
South Africa vs. England – 16:00 GMT (18:00 SAST)
Saturday 31 January – Johannesburg
South Africa vs. England – 15:00 GMT (17:00 SAST)
Sunday 1 February – Johannesburg
South Africa vs. England – 14:00 GMT (16:00 SAST)
With thanks to England Netball
