The Wales national netball team, also known as the Welsh Feathers, represents Wales Netball in international netball competitions such as the Netball World Cup, the Commonwealth Games, the Netball Europe Open Championships, Netball World Cup Qualifiers and the Netball Singapore Nations Cup. Since 2005–06, Wales has also effectively competed in the Netball Super League, initially playing as Celtic Dragons and more recently as Cardiff Dragons. As of March 2026, Wales are listed 7th on the World Netball Rankings, making the squad the highest ranked international sport in Wales.
History Early tests Wales made their Test debut on 7 May 1949 with a 14–13 win against Scotland. The match was played at the General Electric Company ground on Preston Road, Wembley during the 1949 England Scotland Wales Netball Series. Wales also played England for the first time on the same day, losing 25–3. In 1951, as part of the Festival of Britain celebrations, Wales hosted their first home international match, played outdoors at Cathays High School, Cardiff. Wales lost to England by 26–7. In April 1957, Wales hosted their first indoor home international matches at Sophia Gardens Pavilion. Wales lost to both England (34–5) and to Scotland (16–9). In 1980, with a team coached by Wendy White, Wales defeated England 33–29 in Plymouth. This was the first time Wales had defeated England.
Netball Super League Since 2005–06, Wales has also effectively competed in the Netball Super League, initially playing as Celtic Dragons. Since the 2024 season, they have played as Cardiff Dragons. Melissa Hyndman, Trish Wilcox and Julie Hoornweg all served as joint head coach of both Dragons and Wales. At the 2018 Commonwealth Games eleven of the squad were Dragons players and the twelfth, Chelsea Lewis was a former player. Dragons players continue to make up the majority of the Wales team.
World Netball Rankings Between 2008 and 2024, Wales averaged 9th in the World Netball Rankings. In September 2017, they were listed 7th. In March 2022, they qualified for the 2022 Commonwealth Games after being ranked 8th. In March 2025 they were listed 6th for the first time.
Tournament history Major tournaments Netball World Cup Wales have been regular participants in World Netball Championships and Netball World Cups. They didn’t travel to the 1967 tournament and failed to qualify in 2019. The highest position they have finished is 6th which they achieved on twice, in 1975 and 1979.
Tournaments Place1963 World Netball Championships10th1971 World Netball Championships7th1975 World Netball Championships6th1979 World Netball Championships6th1983 World Netball Championships8th1987 World Netball Championships13th1991 World Netball Championships7th1995 World Netball Championships17th1999 World Netball Championships14th2003 World Netball Championships14th2007 World Netball Championships12th2011 World Netball Championships9th2015 Netball World Cup7th2023 Netball World Cup9th
Commonwealth Games Wales have been regular participants in Netball at the Commonwealth Games. Their highest ever finish came in 2002 when they finished 6th.
Tournaments Place2002 Commonwealth Games6th 2006 Commonwealth Games8th2014 Commonwealth Games8th 2018 Commonwealth Games11th2022 Commonwealth Games8th
World Games Tournaments Place1993 World Games6th European tournaments Netball Europe Open Championships Wales have regularly played in the Netball Europe Open Championships. They have won the tournament on three occasions. In 2001 with a team coached by Raewyn Henry they clinched the title when they defeated England 59–58 in Canterbury. In 2013, with a team featuring Suzy Drane, Sara Hale and Chelsea Lewis and coached by Melissa Hyndman, Wales won the title after defeating England 37–33. In 2014, Wales retained the title and qualified for the 2015 Netball World Cup.
Tournaments Place1998 FENA Open1999 FENA Open2000 FENA Open2001 FENA Open1st2002 FENA Open2003 FENA Open2004 FENA Open2005 FENA Open2nd2006 FENA Open2nd2007 FENA Open2nd2008 FENA Open4th2009 Netball Europe Open Championships4th2010 Netball Europe Open Championships2nd2011 Netball Europe Open Championships2nd2012 Netball Europe Open Championships3rd2013 Netball Europe Open Championships1st2014 Netball Europe Open Championships1st2015 Netball Europe Open Championships3rd2016 Netball Europe Open Championships2nd2017 Netball Europe Open Championships4th2019 Netball Europe Open Championships2nd
Netball World Cup Qualifiers Tournaments Place2007 World Netball Championships Qualifier – Europe1st2011 World Netball Championships Qualifier – Europe2nd2014 Netball Europe Open Championships1st2019 Netball World Cup Regional Qualifier – Europe3rd2023 Netball World Cup Regional Qualifier – Europe1st
Invitational tournaments Celtic Cup The Celtic Cup series is hosted and organised by Netball Northern Ireland, Netball Scotland and Wales Netball. The series features Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales playing a series of test matches against each other and visiting national teams. Wales won the inaugural 2024 series.
Tournaments Place2024 Celtic Cup1st 2025 Celtic Cup3rd
Wendy White Trophy Series Wales Netball introduced the Wendy White Trophy Series in honour of Wendy White, a former Wales player and head coach. In February 2017, the inaugural series saw Wales host New Zealand. Since the series has featured Samoa and South Africa. In 2022, the series saw Wales host Gibraltar, the Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland.
Tournaments Place 2017 Wendy White Trophy Series (February)2nd2017 Wendy White Trophy Series (December)1st2019 Wendy White Trophy Series2nd2022 Wendy White Trophy Series1st
Netball Singapore Nations Cup In 2010, with a team featuring Suzy Drane, Sara Hale and Chelsea Lewis and coached by Melissa Hyndman, Wales won the Netball Singapore Nations Cup. In the final they defeated Scotland 53–30.
Tournaments Place2010 Netball Singapore Nations Cup1st
Notable players Current Squad
Captains Captains YearsSybil Nest Butler-Jones1949Patrica Willett1963Anne Lucas1971 Jennifer Sealey1975 Maria Gornell1987, 1991Helen Weston1999, 2002 Joanna Griffiths2002, 2003 Ursula Bowers2006–2007 Suzy Drane2010–2022Sara Hale2011Nia Jones2022–2025Bethan Dyke2023–
Welsh Sports Hall of Fame The following Wales netball internationals have been inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame. Inducted Player Appearances Years2007Helen Weston1111982–20022019Wendy White719632023Suzy Drane1252005–2022
Former players Anna Mayes, head coach of England Liz Nicholl, president of World Netball
Head coaches Coach YearsEdith Parry1959– Wendy White1968–1980 Jennifer Sealey1983 Mary French1984–1986Beverley Ryan1987 Julia Longville1991, 2006 Avril Roper1995 Jean Watson1999 Raewyn Henry2002–2003 Julia Harding2005 Denise Ellis2007–2008 Melissa Hyndman2010–2014Laura Williams2014Trish Wilcox2014–2018Julie Hoornweg2018–2019Sara Hale2020–2023 Emily Handyside2023–
Honours Celtic Cup Winners: 2024 Netball Europe Open Championships Winners: 2001, 2013, 2014 Netball World Cup Qualifiers Winners: 2007, 2015, 2023 Netball Singapore Nations Cup Winners: 2010
References