England skipper Francesca Williams believes her time in Australia’s elite netball league has pushed her to be the best version of herself and she will be looking to bring that when she captains her side in the Nations Cup this weekend.
Williams made her Netball Super League (NSL) debut in 2016 for Surrey Storm and represented both Wasps Netball and Loughborough Lightning subsequently, but after seven years in the top English league moved Down Under in 2024 to play for West Coast Fever.
Australia is home to a professional setup that attracts the best players in the world, contributing to their world No 1 ranking and 12 world championship titles.
When detailing her time in Australia, Williams credited the impact playing in the Suncorp Super Netball (SSN) has had on her own ability and that the intensity of training has pushed her to perform at her best.
Williams said: “It has been really cool playing out in Australia and getting to experience a bit of SSN netball and that intensity of the more full-time environment they have out there at the moment with their club system. [The biggest lesson I have learned] is to do with the professionalism and standards out there within training and day to day and I think that is what comes with being full-time.
“That is why it is really exciting to see what is happening with NSL 2.0 right now. For the girls playing here in the English league, I think while it is early days, what they are building towards and what I know their vision and plan is for our domestic league here is exciting and that they are going to follow a similar path hopefully.
“I feel like playing in Australia has helped grow my styles of play, my outlook on training, it has pushed me to go at that intensity week in week out, which are all skills I think I need at this point in my game.”
The 27-year-old will be looking to use what she has learnt as she captains England against Malawi and South Africa this weekend.
This will be Williams’ third year as England captain, a feeling she still describes as an honour, after making her senior debut in 2018 against Uganda.
“I honestly feel such immense pride [captaining the team] and it is quite a hard thing to describe the honour you get to lead the team, to have the opportunity and responsibility,” Williams added.
“It is something I don’t take lightly and probably sometimes weighs a bit too heavy and the girls will say ‘It’s okay you can chill out, relax we’re all going to be fine.’ I just want everyone to be enjoying themselves the whole time and make the most out of the moment and opportunity.
“We are building so nicely as a team and connecting, I guess my role is to make everyone feel confident on court as one unit when we go out and play.
“It is always easier to lead a team when you are winning, there is no doubt about that, but that’s something to work on, being able to lead the team when you are down as well as riding the highs. With how intense international netball is these days you can’t win the ball one on one, you have to work as a unit.”
England’s squad: Halimat Adio, Imogen Allison, Amy Carter, Beth Cobden, Zara Everitt, Funmi Fadoju, Berri Neil, Razia Quashie, Ellie Rattu, Paige Reed, Alicia Scholes, Jess Shaw, Liv Tchine, Emma Thacker, Francesca Williams.
Vitality Netball Nations Cup fixtures – live on Sky Sports
All times are GMT
Saturday February 1 – Motorpoint Arena, Nottingham
South Africa vs Uganda (3pm)
England vs Malawi (5pm)
Sunday February 2
Malawi vs Uganda (2pm)
England vs South Africa (4pm)
Saturday February 8 – Copper Box Arena, London
Malawi vs South Africa (3pm)
England vs Uganda (5pm)
Sunday February 9
Third-place play-off (1.30pm)
Final (4pm)
Who will win the Vitality Netball Nations Cup? Watch live this February live on Sky Sports. Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW.
Source : Sky Sports
