Jayda Pechova will make the step up to England’s senior squad for this summer’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, with Nat Metcalf and Fran Williams also named.
Head coach Anna Stembridge has named a squad of 12, including 2018 Commonwealth champion Metcalf, with Williams set to captain the team for the Glasgow event, scheduled from July 23 to August 2.
Pechova, 21, swept the board at the 2026 Netball Super League awards as she scooped all three individual honours, including Player of the Year.
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Former England coach Tracey Neville and Tamsin Greenway discuss England Netball’s announcement that Jess Thirlby has stepped down as Head Coach of the Vitality Roses
She becomes the youngest member of the squad and steps up to the senior stage following a stellar campaign for Nottingham Forest.
Pechova earned a brilliant 88 gains and 75 deflections as Forest finished in the top four for the first time in the club’s history.
Stembridge, who replaced Jess Thirlby in the role, said: “It is a huge honour to be able to announce the athletes who will represent Team England at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. Every player who puts on the red dress understands the responsibility that comes with that opportunity, and the 12 athletes named today have all earned their place through their performances, commitment, and the standards they have shown.
“The competitiveness within English netball is incredibly strong, and this squad reflects the quality and depth we have across the programme. We have a balance of players who bring valuable experience from previous major tournaments, alongside athletes who will be experiencing their first Commonwealth Games and are ready to embrace that opportunity.
“Each athlete brings different qualities to this group, and the strength of this team will come from how we combine those qualities and perform together. We’re excited to continue our preparation and represent Team England on one of the biggest stages for our sport.”
Fran Williams has won a silver and bronze medal at the Netball World Cup
Williams is one of six players from England’s 2023 silver medal-winning World Cup squad who will take to the court this summer, with Liv Tchine also returning and taking on the role of vice-captain alongside Amy Carter.
Goal shooter Tchine heads to her second major international tournament having shone domestically for London Pulse in the Netball Super League (NSL) and on the international stage since her debut in 2022.
Tchine is joined in attack by Eleanor Cardwell, who is selected for her second Commonwealth Games after debuting at Birmingham 2022.
Cardwell’s AO Manchester Thunder teammate Lois Pearson, meanwhile, is heading to her first major international competition.
The Bury-born attacker made her international debut in 2024 off the back of a standout NSL season, where she was named Players’ Player of the Season, and has continued to be a leading player for club and country since.
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Tamsin Greenway reacts to the news of England Netball head coach Jess Thirlby stepping down just four months from the start of the Commonwealth Games
Fellow Team England debutant Sasha Glasgow completes the squad’s shooting options. Glasgow was born and raised in Australia to English parents and made her international debut in 2023.
In the midcourt, Metcalf returns for her third Games. The wing attack was part of the historic side that won gold at Gold Coast 2018, before she captained Team England at Birmingham 2022 and co-captained the Vitality Roses to a silver medal in the 2023 Netball World Cup. Metcalf returned to court this season following the birth of her daughter, Miller, last year.
She is joined by AO Manchester Thunder teammate Carter, who was a travelling reserve for the 2023 Netball World Cup and captained AO Thunder to a historic fifth NSL title last weekend.
Versatile midcourter Imo Allison is also included for her second Commonwealth Games appearance, having established herself as one of the game’s leading players across centre and wing defence.
Jess Shaw completes the midcourt, having impressed in recent domestic seasons with impressive all-action displays.
In defence, Williams is joined by Halimat Adio, Funmi Fadoju, and Pechova.
Adio heads to her first Commonwealth Games off the back of a string of strong seasons with London Pulse that have seen her become a mainstay in England’s defence.
Fadoju stars alongside Adio for London Pulse and will hope to do the same for Team England at Glasgow 2026.
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Highlights of the Netball Super League Grand Final between Manchester Thunder and London Pulse
Team England netball squad
Defence
Halimat Adio (28, London, London Pulse)
Francesca Williams (28, Reading, West Coast Fever)
Funmi Fadoju (23, Redbridge, London Pulse)
Jayda Pechova (21, Fleet, Nottingham Forest)
Midcourt
Imo Allison (28, Huddersfield, Queensland Firebirds)
Jess Shaw (30, Stockport, Loughborough Lightning)
Amy Carter (27, Nottingham, AO Manchester Thunder)
Nat Metcalf (33, Keighley, AO Manchester Thunder)
Attack
Sasha Glasgow (27, Moonta, Australia, West Coast Fever)
Liv Tchine (25, London, London Pulse)
Eleanor Cardwell (31, Blackpool, AO Manchester Thunder)
Lois Pearson (26, Bury, AO Manchester Thunder)
The Vitality Roses; England Netball’s senior team, are currently third in the World Netball world rankings.
England star Housby ruled out of Commonwealth Games
Helen Housby famously scored England’s last-second winner to clinch gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games
England star Helen Housby will miss the Commonwealth Games due to injury.
In April it was revealed that Housby would miss an “extended period” of the Suncorp Super Netball season in Australia due to a back injury, with further scans confirming she will be unable to compete this summer.
Housby, who famously scored England’s last-minute winner when they won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games, says she is “devastated” to miss out in the Glasgow event.
Representing Team England is an honour and holds some of my proudest and fondest memories,” she said.
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With 110 caps under her belt, Tamsin and Tracey praise Helen Housby’s invaluable performances for the Roses on the international stage, and question who could fill that gap?
“Despite the setback I’m more determined than ever to come back stronger and get back on court as soon as possible, especially with the World Cup in Sydney on the horizon.
“I’m lucky to be surrounded by an incredible support system and I’m very grateful for the love I’ve received from those closest to me, England Netball, the New South Wales Swifts and the Vitality Roses fans back home.
“I’m excited to see what our girls can achieve this summer and will be giving everything I can off the court to support them in Glasgow. I truly believe our squad can beat anybody and I’m looking forward to watching as a fan this time around.”
