The Netball Super League (NSL) has today revealed further information regarding the U23 feeder League that was announced as part of the wider plans ahead of next season. Confirmed as the NXT Gen League, the competition has been developed to deliver extended opportunities for emerging talent, nurture and develop the next generation of world class players and provide a pipeline of talent for the NSL.

The League will feature nine teams in total. Eight teams will be aligned to the new NSL Clubs: Birmingham Panthers, Cardiff Dragons, Leeds Rhinos, London Mavericks, London Pulse, Loughborough Lightning, Manchester Thunder and Nottingham Forest Netball. In addition, an invitation to participate was extended to Team Bath.

Fixtures for the NXT Gen League have been announced, whilst the squad line-ups will be revealed across the individual Clubs’ social media channels throughout the course of the day. Each squad will have a minimum of 16 and a maximum of 20 players.

The League will begin in February 2025 and will see all nine teams play each other twice in a home and away format to find a national winner, with fixtures aligned to NSL matches where possible. With its own distinctive brand identity, the NXT Gen League will be closely interconnected with the NSL but will exist as a standalone competition.

Eligibility for the competition is for athletes under 23 years, however squads can include up to four players over the age of 23 years to support and enhance the quality of the competition, whilst protecting opportunities for developing athletes. These players are likely to have previously played in the NSL but not have been signed as a registered player for the 2025 season. They may also be players over the age of 23 returning from pregnancy or injury, or players that Clubs believe will support the competition and environment for the NXT Gen League.

Players registered within the NXT Gen League will be eligible, providing they meet the eligibility criteria, to act as a Temporary Replacement Player (TRP) for their Club’s NSL squad, in instances where one of the ten Registered NSL players are not available for selection due to Short Term Circumstances. In this instance, players will receive a match fee alongside payment for any additional training requirements during their time as a TRP. Players for Team Bath are also eligible to be TRPs for an NSL Club, however once they have been a TRP for one NSL Club, that is the only Club they can step up for.

Discussing the launch of the NXT Gen League, Managing Director of the NSL Claire Nelson said: “We are delighted to launch this innovative new League that will underpin the relaunched NSL in 2025. With a bold new name and brand, this competition will see some of the country’s most talented developing players take to court where they will proudly represent their club colours, competing week in, week out and developing vital experience along the way.

“As we look to build the NSL to create the most competitive, captivating and commercially vibrant netball League in the world, we are committed to ensuring that there is a clear and well-supported pathway for young athletes who will one day become the future stars of the NSL. The NXT Gen League will provide elite quality competition in supportive environments that will prepare developing athletes to take the next step in their netball careers, whilst also enabling them to learn from more experienced athletes.”

More information about broadcast plans for this League will be shared in due course.

For more information on the NXT Gen League and the NSL please visit www.netballsl.com.

Tickets for the home and away rounds of the NXT Gen League will be available to purchase from the specific Clubs’ websites.

With thanks to England Netball

Photo: Detlev Seyb/World Rowing

Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, the event was held with a host of prevention measures including testing for teams arriving from ‘high-risk’ countries, hand sanitization at all entrances and the required wearing of masks at all times. On the water, however, the racing was as expected; intense and to a very high calibre.

Italy won the most medals overall, finishing with five gold, six silver and three bronze. The Italian success occurred mainly in the lightweight categories where they won in the lightweight men’s single sculls, lightweight men’s pair, lightweight women’s double sculls and lightweight women’s quadruple sculls. The fifth Italian gold went to the young Nicolo Carucci who stepped up from the junior to the under-23 level this year and proved his speed in the men’s single sculls.

Romania also recorded five gold medals, but were short of the total Italian tally by four. The Romanians dominated the small boat sweep events by winning both the men’s and women’s fours and pairs. In one of the most stunning races of the day, the Romanian women’s double sculls of Nicoleta-Ancuta Bodnar and Simona Radis glided across the finish line with several boat lengths open water to the rest of the field.

Host nation Germany entered all 22 boat classes and capped off the medal success by winning gold in both the men’s and women’s eights. That broke the Romanian women’s eight grasp on this boat class and was one of the first German medals in the women’s eight in a number of years.

Greece and Ireland both landed on the medals table with two gold medals each. The Greeks remained powerful in the small boats, including a win in the women’s single sculls by Anneta Kyridou.

“This was the only race of the year so I wanted to win. It’s interesting conditions with the virus, but I think we have to get used to it as it will be a long time like this. On the water nothing has changed. Off the water, we have to be careful with the others. We are preparing for a new season, so we have to be healthy,” Kyridou says.

Overall 15 out of the 30 participating nations took home medals. This was a record level of participation for the event which is in its fourth year.

The European Rowing Under 23 Championships is open to all European nations and offers 22 boat classes spread evenly among men and women. The event was started to promote the development of under-23 athletes at the European level.

For results, race reports, video on demand and live blog go to www.worldrowing.com

There was also a silver medal for Lauren Williams in Bedford, as well as bronze for fellow students Isobel Ives and Georgia Silcox, while Team Bath Athletics Club’s two medals included a brilliant gold for Tom Gale.

Cameron (left) and Alistair Chalmers, parents Lesley and Chris, and coach James Hillier Photo: Lesley Chalmers

King Sporting Scholar Alistair, who has just completed the first year of a Sports Performance course, set a national age-group record of 50.58 as he won the U20 men’s 400m hurdles title for a third year running.

Older brother Cameron, who was supported by a Thompson Education Trust Scholarship while also studying Sports Performance from 2015 to 2018, then claimed the U23 men’s 400m title after clocking 46.34 in a highly-competitive race.

“It was always going to be a really good race, with a lot of guys running well,” said Cameron who, like his brother, is coached by James Hillier at the University’s Sports Training Village.

“It’ll be a very tired household. Both of us will go into a block of training ahead of the Europeans. Alistair is running really well, training really well.”

Management with Marketing student Williams, supported by a Santander Scholarship and coached at the University by Colin Bovell, ran a season’s best time of 59.13 as she finished U23 women’s 400m hurdles runner-up in her first year in the age group.

Civil Engineering Masters student Ives took women’s U23 800m bronze in 2:08.92 and Sport & Exercise Science student Silcox placed third in both the women’s U23 long jump and triple jump with clearances of 5.64 and 12.44 respectively.

Team Bath Athletics Club high jumper Gale, who is coached by Dennis Doyle at the University, earned an automatic European U23 qualification spot as he sailed clear at 2.25m, notching a season’s best mark in the process.

Club colleague Anna Burt placed third in the U20 women’s 1500m in a time of 4:31.56.

Visit www.teambath.com/athletics to find out more about student, club and high-performance athletics at the University of Bath.

Courtesy of the Team Bath Press Office at Matchtight Ltd.

The 20-strong group take on France (Friday 5 April, kick-off 3pm), Norway (Sunday 7 April, kick-off 3pm) and Sweden (Tuesday 9 April, kick-off 12pm).

Head coach Marley said: “We are all looking forward to the challenge of playing against some of the strongest U23 teams in Europe.

“It’s a great opportunity for our players to experience multiple games, similar to tournament football, which is perfect for preparing our players for senior football.” 

The squad

Goalkeepers
Sandy MacIver (Clemson University), Sophie Baggaley (Bristol City)

Defenders
Anna Patten (Florida State University), Gabby George (Everton), Jess Carter (Chelsea), Grace Fisk (South Carolina University), Megan Finnigan (Everton), Maz Pachecho (Reading), Lotte Wubben-Moy (University North Carolina), Lucy Parker (Louisiana State University), Taylor Hinds (Everton)

Midfielders
Alessia Russo (University of North Carolina), Chloe Peplow (Brighton and Hove Albion), Connie Scofield (Birmingham City), Mollie Rouse (University of Central Florida)

Forwards
Charlie Wellings (Birmingham City), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Rinsola Babjide (Liverpool), Rianna Dean (Tottenham Hotspur), Ellie Brazil (Brighton and Hove Albion)

Photo above shows Lotte Wubben-Moy 

Courtesy of The FA

Chelsea’s Bethany England got the team off to a good start with a goal on just 6 minutes. Unfortunately an own goal from Birmingham defender Aoife Mannion leveled the score at 1-1.

With the honours still even at full time the game went to penalties and England sealed a victory with a 3-1 win.

In the other game of the tournament the USA beat Sweden by 3-1.

England’s Nordic Tournament fixtures:

Saturday 4 June – England v  Sweden on Saturday 4 June

Tuesday 7 June – England v USA

Both games will take place at St. George’s Park.

U19s lose to France

Meanwhile, also at St George’s Park, the U19s lost their final game of the season to France by 2-0.  Apparently coach Mo Marley had picked with team with next season’s Euro qualifiers in mind as many of the players in the team will be eligible to play next season.

Both games were played in front of an invited crowd of family and friends.

Photo above features Bethany England by Gino D’Andrea

Full squad:

Goalkeepers: Sophie Baggaley (Birmingham City), Elizabeth Durack (Harvard University).

Defenders: Hannah Blundell (Chelsea), Molly Bartrip (Reading), Jess Carter (Birmingham City), Aoife Mannion (Birmingham City), Millie Turner (Everton), Abbie McManus (Manchester City), Paige Williams (Brescia).

Midfielders: Jade Bailey (Chelsea), Jodie Brett (Bristol City – on loan from Chelsea), Millie Bright (Chelsea), Beth England (Chelsea), Claudia Walker (Everton), Katie Zelem (Liverpool).

Forwards: Rosella Ayane (Bristol City – on loan from Chelsea), Carla Humphrey (Doncaster Rovers Belles – on loan from Arsenal), Millie Farrow (Bristol City – on loan from Chelsea), Melissa Lawley (Birmingham City), Taome Oliver (Notts County).

Nordic Tournament fixtures

v Norway, Thursday 2 June
v Sweden, Saturday 4 June
v USA, Tuesday 7 June

The matches will now be played at St George’s Park, having been moved from Lilleshall, with England’s first game against Norway on Thursday 2 June (5pm KO). Matches are open to invited guests only.

Pictured above Bethany England and Jade Bailey by Gino D’Andrea

The young Lionesses have two remaining games in La Manga; on Friday they will take on France before their final game on Sunday against Sweden.

England Under 23 team: Mary Earps (Reading), Hannah Blundell (Chelsea), Paige Williams (Brescia), Sherry McCue (Sheffield), Aoife Mannion (Birmingham City), Millie Bright (Chelsea) (c), Kasia Lipka (Doncaster Rovers Belles), Danielle Carter (Arsenal), Nikita Parris (Manchester City), Leah Galton (Sky Blue), Abbie McManus (Manchester City)

Substitutes: Ashley Hodson (Liverpool) for Galton; Kirsty Linnett (Birmingham City) for Carter

A second-half strike from Kate Holmes proved enough for England Under-23 Women to beat India in the Six Nations Tournament on Saturday, and line up a bronze medal clash against the same opponent on Sunday.

Holmes struck with a low drag flick from the top of the D which found the bottom corner, and the team held on to take the win.

Head Coach Craig Keegan said: “It was a much deserved victory in tough conditions. India are always a tricky team as they have fantastic individual skills. Today our organisation and solid team defence enabled us to gain and maintain good periods of possession.

“In the first half in particular creating numerous opportunities, and it was pleasing to see Kate Holmes score from a short corner later in the game, but in the second half we had to withstand a little bit of pressure. We are now looking forward  to playing for the Bronze medal tomorrow. It has been a tough tournament in a number of ways, but testament to the players’ commitment that they have put themselves in a position to play for a medal.”

England’s bronze medal clash with India is tomorrow, Sunday, 6 July, at 12noon (GMT).

England (0) 1

Kate Holmes – 47 (PC)

India (0) 0

England U23 Women’s Squad

 ENGLAND Under-23 Women lost out to hosts The Netherlands in their second match of the Six Nations Tournament in Breda on Tuesday evening.

 Despite displaying great commitment and work rate, the Dutch were too strong for England and took their chances superbly. It took The Netherlands just four minutes to open their account with Kiki Van Wijk scoring from open play, and Pleun Van Der Plas doubled their advantage on 23 minutes, again from open play.

Their third goal came on 32 minutes from a penalty corner scored by Frederique Matla, and she popped up again to score on 60 and 65 minutes, both from open play, to seal England’s fate.

“It was a tough game tonight against hosts The Netherlands,” said Head Coach Craig Keegan. “They certainly deserved the victory, however I was very proud of the way we continued to compete until the very end. Our focus now shifts on to tomorrow’s opponents Germany. Looking at the bigger picture the Volvo Six Nations is a tournament that delivers in a number of development areas. Playing against the best teams from Europe as well as China, New Zealand and India is great, as they are nations we don’t get to play at Under-23 level very often.”

England (0) 0

The Netherlands (3) 5

Kiki Van Wijk 4 (FG)

Pleun Van Der Plas 23 (FG)

Frederique Matla 32 60 65 (PC, FG, FG)

England Under-23 Women take on Germany on Wednesday, 22 July, at 4pm (GMT).

England U23 Women’s Squad

Wednesday 27th May

USA 2-1 Sweden Goals: Kayla Mills 5′ (USA) Cari Roccaro 30′ (USA) Elin Landström 54′ (Sweden)

Norway 3-0 England Goals: Victoria Ludvigsen 9′, Vilde Bøe Risa 45′, Maria Brochmann 90+3′

Friday 29th May

Sweden 3-1 England Goals: Pauline Hammarlund 15′ 32′, Nathalie Björn 42′ (Sweden), Nikita Parris 68′ (England)

Norway 2-2 USA Goals: Andrine Hegerberg 12′,  Synne Hansen 78′ (Norway), Chioma Ubogagu 51′ 75′ (USA)

Forthcoming fixtures:

Sunday 31st May

Norway 1-2 Sweden Goals: Mimmi Larsson 25′, Petra Andersson 50′ (Sweden), Vilde Fjelldal 58′ (Norway)

England 1-2 USA Goals: Rosemary Lavelle 7′, Taylor Smith 73′ (USA) Jess Sigsworth 60′ (England)

More information on the International Nordic Tournament to be found here.