THE LIONESSES may have hung up their boots for another season but the Roses are set to take the sporting world by storm.
England’s netball team is currently taking part in the World Cup in Liverpool.
Yesterday’s match seeing the women beat Trinidad and Tobago to reach the semi-finals but who are the women going for gold?
Fabulous Digital introduces the Roses…
Helen Housby – GA / GS
Aged just 24, Helen has earned 58 England caps and with her skills in the circle, she’s likely to earn 58 more.
She started her domestic career being nurtured by Tracey Neville at Manchester Thunder and moved to play for the New South Wales Swifts in the Aussie league in 2017.
Originally from Liverpool, Helen can often be seen showcasing her glam lifestyle on her Instagram account where she boasts 60,000 followers – the most on the squad.
Where she is posing up a storm in a bikini or heading out on the town, she has been described as the “most beautiful netballer” by fans.
Natalie Panagarry – C / WA
Natalie, 28, currently plays for Loughborough Lightning in the UK Superleague.
A great domestic season has earned her a spot in the World Cup squad – she’s currently won eight caps for the Roses.
She has been in a relationship with her girlfriend Katie for six years and the couple have recently welcomed a dachshund puppy called Louis Pretzel.
When off the court Natalie and Katie enjoy a jet set lifestyle and can often be seen taking romantic weekends away together.
In the past year they have visited Copenhagen, Chamonix, Amsterdam and Santorini.
Serena Guthrie (Captain) – C / WA
Serena is a game-changing centre court player with 51 caps under her belt.
The 29-year-old stands at 5ft 11in and is one of the speediest players around the court – her interceptions can turn a match around.
Serena has split her career between the UK, the ANZ and Australian Superleagues – returning to Team Bath for the 2019 season.
She is engaged to Bob Kersten, an entrepreneur and marketing and events manager.
The couple recently bought a house together in Bath where Bob has opened his stroop waffle business Dutch Boy.
The other serious commitment in their lives is their adorable dachshund puppy Bobby who makes regular appearances on both Serena and Bob’s Instagram.
And it seems that Serena has even paid a sweet tribute to her partner in her Instagram handle which is currently @serenabob.
Jade Clarke (Vice Captain) – C / WA
Jade is England’s most capped player with 161 appearances to her name.
A brilliant mid-courter, 35-year-old Jade is currently playing in the UK Vitality Superleague for Wasps Netball after returning from a 7-year stint down under in both the ANZ Championships and the Australian Superleague.
She is fully focused on her career with her social media flooded with on-court shots and post-game celebrations.
Jade also offers coaching to youngsters but aside from netball Jade’s other passion is dogs who crop up all over her Instagram, despite the fact she hasn’t got one herself.
Jo Harten – GS / GA
Jo is a powerhouse of a 6ft 2 in goal shooter who has appeared 99 times for England.
She’s played most of her career in the ANZ and Australian leagues and is a key player for the Giants, in 2018 she scored an impressive 453 goals from 520 attempts.
Despite being based in Sydney, Jo is a real homebody and can often be seen gushing about her nephew back in the UK.
When she isn’t on the court she can often be seen taking to the water as a keen surfer.
Chelsea Pitman – WA / GA
Australian born Chelsea has played all of her domestic netball in the Australian league where she’s currently signed to the Adelaide Thunderbirds.
Aged 31, the experienced midcourt player represented the Australian Diamonds before switching to the English National team through her Yorkshire-born father.
She is engaged to keen photographer Shayne Harris.
The loved-up couple can often be seen posing up a storm online and Shayne popped the question in New York’s Central Park in October last year.
Natalie Haythornthwaite – WA / GA
Natalie, 26, was mightily impressive during her debut domestic seasons at Manchester Thunder.
She moved to Superleague winning Wasps before heading down under to play for the New South Wales Swifts and has earned 28 caps playing for the Roses.
Natalie is invaluable in attack – able to switch positions seamlessly between wing and goal attack.
She is engaged to her partner Jay who she has been dating for five years but the pair are in a long-distant relationship with Natalie currently based in Sydney.
Jay popped the question on New Year’s Eve when Natalie was back visiting her family.
Last year the couple helped to design and build their own home together in the UK which they will get a chance to properly settle in once Natalie moves back to the UK.
Geva Mentor – GK
6ft 2in Geva is one of the most respected goalkeepers in the world.
Since making her England debut in 2001 at the age of 16, she’s won 135 caps and was awarded a CBE in the 2019 honours list.
Geva, now 34, plays her domestic netball in the Australian Super League for the Collingwood Magpies.
She recently released her own book of memoirs, Leap which charts her journey through her sporting career.
Family-oriented Geva spends most of her time with her younger brother Raoul as well as their two teen sisters Noor and Inez.
Eboni Usoro-Brown – GD / GK
31-year-old Eboni (formerly Beckford-Chambers) made her international debut for England in 2008.
Since then the 6ft 1in defender has built on her reputation as a solid presence in defence for both the Roses and Team Bath.
Eboni recently showcased her modelling credentials when she starred in the Oasis Lovely Does It campaign back in April.
She describes 2018 as the ‘best year of her life’ having married her “incredible” husband Jacob.
The year also saw the Roses take home gold at the Commonwealth Games and win best team and moment of the year at Sports Personality of the Year.
Eboni also took part in a game of netball with Meghan Markle shortly before she announced her pregnancy.
Francesca Williams – GD / WD
The most inexperienced member of the squad, 21-year-old Fran current has 3 England caps.
The 6ft defender plays her domestic netball for Wasps and was impressive for the Roses in the 2019 Quad Series.
Rachel Dunn – GS / GA
At 36 Rachel is one of the oldest players on the team.
A genetic scientist when she’s not on the court for Wasps although how she finds the time having made over 200 domestic Superleague plus 86 England caps is anyone’s guess.
A hugely experienced and safe pair of hands in the shooting circle, Rachel is still going strong and playing some of the best netball of her career.
Rachel is keen on the great outdoors and can often be seen enjoying a hike with her two siblings when she is taking a break from her busy schedule.
And their coach Tracey Neville
Tracey Neville, 42, is a legend in English netball and is the sister of retired football stars Gary and Phil Neville.
She played for England from 1993-2008 at wing and goal attack earning 81 caps.
After retiring as a player, she came into her own as a coach when she took on Manchester Thunder before moving into the England job in 2015.
Under her guidance, the national side has gone from strength to strength, moving up the world rankings and the praise heaped on Tracey after she coached the Roses to their historic 2018 Commonwealth gold was well-earned.
Tracey is stepping down as national coach following the World Cup – let’s hope she can take away a second gold as a parting gift!
Francesca has been very vocal about netball being “treated with the respect it deserves” and is hoping the World Cup will help raise its visibility.
Off the court Francesca leads a relatively low key lifestyle, spending time with her family in cosy countryside settings.
In other news, we told you how a Miss England finalist defied convention by wearing a wetsuit instead of a bikini.
And Emily Clarkson has branded Gemma Collins a "hypocrite for cashing in on body positivity and then selling diet tea."
Source: Read Full Article