Vitality Netball Superleague 2020 signing window – August
FOR the remainder of the year, Draft Central will help keep track of movements in the Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL) 2020 signing window, with a monthly article updated when a new signing has occurred. We will link back to the VNSL website for full details.
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Wednesday, August 14
Team Bath announced its second re-signing of the season, with experienced wing attack Rachel Shaw going around for an eighth season in the blue and gold. Shaw combines her playing commitments with coaching junior squads at Team Bath and was announced as a re-signing to join Usoro-Brown on the finalist’s list.
VNSL has announced that the competition will be running over 19 rounds in 2020 thanks to the introduction of a season opener event for its 15th year. The opening round will be added to the beginning of the regular 18 match season with the blockbuster first round decided by 2019 ladder positioning. To kickstart the round the Strathclyde Sirens and London Pulse will face off in hope to claim early bragging rights heading into their 2020 campaign. Moving up the ladder Saracens Mavericks and Severn Stars will meet next while Celtic Dragons and Surrey Storm will match up. Reigning premiers, Manchester Thunder will face Wasps Netball who finished second this year while Team Bath and Loughborough Lightning will to do battle making for an exciting start to the 2020 season. The opening round will count towards each club’s total points meaning each side will play nine home and away games on top of the additional season opener.
Monday, August 12
Manchester Thunder announced the re-signing of midcourter, Laura Malcolm for the 2020 season. Having recently been selected as one of the 29 English Roses for the 2019-2020 year, the versatile player can play at any of the three positions on the court and will provide great experience to the side she was a key cog in on its way to the VNSL title.
Strathclyde Sirens announced Lesley MacDonald as Head Coach for the 2020 season, with the former Thistle holding the record for the most international games for Scotland with 132. She was the Assistant Coach at the 2019 Netball World Cup, and will be joined by fellow Scottish veteran, Claire Maxwell who will take fill a player-coach role.
Friday, August 2
Leeds Rhinos might not be entering the VNSL until 2021, but they announced Northern Ireland head coach Dan Ryan as the person to lead them in their inaugural season. The Manchester Thunder assistant coach has previously coached in the Suncorp Super Netball League with the Adelaide Thunderbirds.
Thursday, August 1
English capped Eboni Usoro-Brown became the first official signing of the VNSL 2020 season, recommitting to Team Bath in what was a massive re-signing for the semi-finalists. Usoro-Brown became a crucial player in the defensive goal circle for Bath and the English Roses at the World Cup after Layla Guscoth went down, recording six intercepts, four rebounds and 13 deflections.
Games of the Weekend | April 26-29
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RECAP | NSL 2024 – Round 10
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Games of the Weekend | April 19-22
ON the menu in World Netball this week includes an English top four match up, a much anticipated match up between former team mates in Australia, and an intriguing clash in New Zealand. ANZ PREMIERSHIP MATCH OF THE ROUNDCentral Pulse vs WBOP MagicSaturday at 4pmTSB Arena, Wellington The first fixture of the entire ANZ Premiership […]
RECAP | NSL 2024 – Round 9
THE Cardiff Dragons have now won the most amount of games they have won in a season since 2019 after they defeated Team Bath 52 goals to 46. The game was tight for much of the match, but the Dragons put their foot down just enough in the third term to secure the win. Although […]
GAMES OF THE WEEKEND | April 12 to 14 2024
FOR the first time in 2024, all three of the world’s biggest netball leagues are up and running, so we are going to take a look at some of the key matches around the world this weekend. ANZ PREMIERSHIP MATCH OF THE ROUND Northern Stars vs. Central PulseSunday at 4pmPulman Arena, Auckland Although it is […]
Big margins the flavour of the NSL weekend
THE order of the weekend in the Netball Super League was big margins, with plenty of double digit margins across the menu. One of these was the London Pulse’s 21 goal win over the Strathclyde Sirens. Although it was one of the Sirens’ best performances scoring wise this season, it was not enough as the […]
PREVIEW | NSL Round 8 2024 – Two months down already
IT is now two months into the Netball Super League season, and the excitement and intrigue just continues to grow. MATCH OF THE ROUND Team Bath vs Leeds Rhinos It is not often that a match between the eighth and nine sides on the ladder is the match of the round, but this is a […]
Some NSL sides win big while others get an Easter wake up
THE Strathclyde Sirens are still looking for their first win of the 2024 NSL season after they were no match for the Loughborough Lightning, losing by 36 goals (72-36). Despite how lopsided the final score was, things started a lot more evenly, with it taking until the 11th centre pass for a centre pass to […]
PREVIEW | NSL Round 7 – One spicy Easter bonanza
IN a full Easter weekend bonanza, there are a couple of clashes this weekend in the NSL that may prove crucial for how the ladder may look come season’s end. GAME OF THE ROUND Saracens Mavericks vs Severn Stars This is an intriguing match up, and one that could prove very crucial for whichever side […]
