photo from @netballworldcup on instagram
20 teams head to Gibraltar this weekend as the Netball World Youth Cup kicks off. The teams were placed into pool groups of five in November and will play in a round robin format until the final days of the week tournament.
Each team will play each other once in their pool groups with the games being able to end in a draw. Based on their pool rankings, teams are reshuffled so if a team finishes fifth they still are in with a chance as they are placed into pool J to battle it out for 17-20th place. These games will also be played in a round robin format and can also be played to a draw.
In the pool stages, if you finished 1st or 2nd, they will be playing for 1-8th with the 3rd and 4th place finishers will be playing for a place between 9th and 16th. These games will not be allowed to be drawn (maybe even having extra time) and will be played in the quarter-finals, semi-finals and finals.
Games will be shown on NetballPass and YouTube for Free. The final three days of the competition and closing ceremony will be exclusive to NetballPass.
Take a look at the 20 teams:
Pool A:
Pool A consists of New Zealand, Gibraltar, Malaysia, Cook Islands and Zambia. The Cook Islands have reached 3rd place which remains their highest international achievement meanwhile for Gibraltar, the U21 made their debut in the Challenge Cup and came away with a gold medal.
Zambia: Tina Hachimpangwe, Nelly Lutambo, Harriet Muchuma, Mule Mukela, Patricia Mukuni, Ines Munge, Tiwa Musonda, Catherine Mwansa, Ivy Mwansa, Joyce Nalwamba, Idah Namonje, Gift Ndawa.
Malaysia: Haisya Abdul Qayyum, Izzazrin, Ahmad Yani, Nuriz Amir Din, Eileen Kong Inn Ci, Farwiza Mohd Fauzi, Maizaturizwana Mohd Ridzuan, Adalia Mustazal, Ellysa Norman Effendy, Fatin Rahmad, Pavitrah Sathiaseelan, Humaria’ Shaharuddin and Akhma Suhhaimi.
Cook Islands: Tia Crombie, Genesis Foster-Jonassen, Charlize Gable-Joseph, Aaliyah Koteka, Sierra Lau’ese, Mere-Jean Piri, Charniah Shepherd, Mahanarei Short, Ngahuia Te-Rure, Jazaria Tongotongo, Kydan Tuapou, Deja-Maree Waitere-Patterson.
Gibraltar: Alexandra Dellipiani, Anna Howard, Natasha Mena, Sophia Shacaluga, Cellene Griffins, Demi Zammit, Neima Roberts Cantrell, Sophia Purkiss Galan, Arabella Duck, Emma Torres, Freya Artell and Lorena Davidson.
New Zealand: Amelia Walmsey, Charlotte Manley, Ella Southby, Josie Seymour, Kaiya Kepa, Kate Taylor, Khanye-Lii Munro-Nonoa, Laura Balmer, Losa Fifita, Sarah Guiney, Serina Daunakamakama, Taiana Day.
Pool B:
Pool B contains Australia, Samoa, Scotland, Singapore and Northern Ireland. Australia have competed in every WYC since the tournament’s debut in 1988 and have won it four times, the last was in 2009. Samoa finished in 11th last competition and Singapore has competed in the competitions since 2009.
Northern Ireland: Catelyn Burns, Joy Ebbinghaus, Emilia Gordon, Tillie Irvine, Mia Lanigan, Zoe Maynard, Rosa McCloskey, Ana Mulholland, Alice O’Brien, Mica Quinn, Eva Ramsey, Immi Shaw.
Scotland: Eve Abbott, Anna Fairclough, Cerys Finn, Phoebe Haynes, Lucy Holmes, Bethany Long, Rebecca MacDonald, Jazmine Moore, Matilda Smyth, Niamh Trainer, Holly Turnbull, Evie Watts.
Samoa: Brooke Marchant, Ciarn MacBride, Julia Tuua Solomona, Kaylee Tamala, Lataanga Holi, Madison Sanele, Mia Swann, Piuti Laban, Tava’e Maria Tatupu, Tianna Apelu, Tynisha Fa’asisila, Unique Pritchard; Travelling Reserves: Amataga Gidlow-Tuilagi, Grace Ioelu, Jenaya Lata.
Australia: Sophie Casey, Kayla Graham, Lily Graham, Jasmah Haywood, Scarlet Jauncey, Tabitha Packer, Frederika Schneideman, Charlotte Sexton, Lucy Voyvodic, Hope White, Grace Whyte, Olivia Wilkinson.
Singapore: Charlotte Megan Rui Lee, Faithmaria Ifeoma McKevin Lawrence, Divya Mathilda B, Tian Ning Faith Tay, Kimberly Jing Ting Koh, Li Xuan Lee, May Xin Tham, Naeya Chandra Sanders, Norah Paul Gabriel, Tessa Shu Hui Teh, Yasmin Iman Binte Rizal Idwin, Zulfa Rashad D/O Rayhan.
Pool C:
Pool C has England, Jamaica, Tonga, Wales and Sri Lanka. England’s highest place is 2nd in 3 tournaments (2009, 2005 and 1992) and Jamaica will be in their sixth World Cup. Tonga are welcomed to their first WYC with Wales competing in the competition since 1988.
England: Celena Appleby-Prince, Sophie Egbaran, Tamilore Fapohunda, Hannah Gibson, Isabelle Kaye, Sophie Kelly, Hannah Knightbridge, Jayda Pechova, Isabella Phillips, Alanna Pullen, Anya Williams, Yomi Wilson.
Wales: Izzy Affley, Ellie Blackwell, Nia Bullen, Dani Carr, Ruby Ellis, Ffion Evans, Mia Hall, Eluned Owen, Thea Rhodes, Lola Rogers, Sarie Watkins, Lowri Windsor.
Jamaica: Roxonna McLean, Shaqwan Hamilton, Jessica Chaplain, Fentonian Henry, Deandra Edwards, Nickesha Powell, Evelyn Smith, Tori Akinrinlola, Azara Wilmot, Kaydeen Gordon, Tianna Reid, Jada Ricketts.
Tonga: Alice Cocker, Isabella Fainga’Anuku, Lupe Fonua, Liesl Hopiate, Eleni Lolesio, Soana Manuofetoa, Siana Matavalea, Emma Mateo, Beyonce Palavi, Sovika Pousini, Losimani Tu’iha’angana and Jariah Vuna-Kivalu.
Sri Lanka: Tumalka Ekanayaka, Nadithi Gunaratne, Vinuji Gunawardana, Deshani Jayalathege Dona, Thirandi Kariyawasam Baddegama Gamage, Kasiwatte Kasiwatta, Maheshi Kulasekara Mudiyanselage, Manoda Liyana Arachchillage, Chalini Rajaguru Mudiyanselage, Samarakoon Samarakoon, Sarani Samarakoon Mudiyanselage and Kasuni Ushettige Dona.
Pool D:
Lastly, Pool D has Fiji, South Africa, Malawi, Barbados and Trinidad & Tobago. Barbados have competed in five competitions (including the last competition in 2017) and their highest finish was 7th in 2013. Fiji’s highest finish was in 2017 after they placed fourth and hosted the first Netball Youth World Cup in 1992 with South Africa having consistently finished in 5th place in the competition.
Barbados: Azaria Alleyne, Damia Walrond, Dessani Waithe, Destinee Brewster, Kezia Watts, Kijana Johnson, Quinesha Cox, Rianna Wiggins, Rynia Ifill, Trinity Gibson, Zakelia Small, Zara Branch.
South Africa: Jade Atkins, Renezia Andrews, Ametisse Bandu, Kyla Dames, Mbali Diphoko, Lisa Ingwersen, Luca Keun, Bianca Lubbe, Nonkcubeko Mjaliswa, Phophi Nematangari, Zahrah Noah, Giada Prinsloo, Luane Smith, Karla Victor and Kiara Van Eeden.
Fiji: Adi Varanisese Vula, Akisi Bolakoro, Anatolia Nuku, Eseta Waqaira, Hana Sotutu, Lydia Tavesivesi, Mereoni Taqiri, Nina Nakula, Shaid Sasalu, Solei Toganivalu, Susana Rasaubale, Vilimaina Kagi
Trinidad and Tobago: Maikea Bramble, Nichola Gill, Nekesha Gomes, Jenicia Goodridge, Jada Hamilton, Sophia Hernandez, Rickibah Isaac, Kerlene Johnson, Azalia Oliverie, Kalvinelle Roberts, Keiko Roy, Kayleea Songui.
Malawi: Sophilet Banda, Alinafe Chaima, Chimwemwe Dzanja, Aisha Gama, Florence Jeke, Getrude Makanganya, Stella Matelzi, Aidah Mhone, Mestinah Mtete, Esther Phiri, Melia Soko and Idess Zachaliah.
Players to Watch from each home nation:
Some players to watch from each home nation would be Hannah Knightbridge (England), Wales’ Dani Carr, Zoe Maynard from Northern Ireland and finally Scotland’s Cerys Finn.
Knightbridge is England’s captain and after her season with London Pulse in the NXT Gen, she is a player to watch helping the movement across the court from the centre pass to the shooting third.
Dani Carr had a stellar season with the Team Bath NXT Gen squad after finishing second in the inaugural competition and her shooting excellence will help the Welsh feathers in Gibraltar.
Zoe Maynard from Northern Ireland has been in the ranks for a while now as she looks to help move her side from the centre third and create goals after helping Team Bath in the Senior PDP set up.
Finally, after her time with London Mavericks in the NSL, Cerys Finn is looking to help the thistles defend as many chances as they get and help their Scottish side get a good place in the rankings.