Sara Hale


Sara Hale, also known as Sara-Louise Hale or Sara Moore, is a former Wales netball international and national team head coach. Between 2002 and 2014 she made 81 senior appearances for Wales. She represented Wales at the 2002 and 2006 Commonwealth Games and at the 2003 and 2007 World Netball Championships. She co-captained Wales at the 2011 World Netball Championships. In the Netball Super League, she played for Celtic Dragons and Manchester Thunder. Between 2020 and 2023, she served as head coach of Wales. She was Wales head coach at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and when they won the 2023 Netball World Cup Regional Qualifier for Europe.

Early life, education and academic career

Sara-Louise Hale is originally from Abergavenny. Between 2002 and 2008 she attended Cardiff Metropolitan University, at the time known as the University of Wales Institute Cardiff. During this time she obtained a Bachelor of Science in Sport and Physical Education and a Master of Science in Performance Analysis. Hale subsequently held senior leadership roles and gained further qualifications at several universities in England, including the University of the West of England, the University Campus of Football Business and the University of Bath.
UniversityYears
University of Wales Institute Cardiff2001–2004BSc Sport and Physical Education
University of Wales Institute Cardiff2004–2007Lecturer
University of Wales Institute Cardiff2005–2008MSc Performance Analysis
University of Bath2007–2009Lecturer in Sports Development and Sports Performance
University of Huddersfield2010–2012Graduate Diploma in Law
University of Central Lancashire2012–2013Lecturer in Sports Development and Performance
University Campus of Football Business2013–2018Programme Leader in Sports Law and Business
University of London2017–2018Postgraduate Certificate in Sports Law
University of London2018–2021Postgraduate Diploma in International Business Law
University of South Wales2018–2019Academic Manager for Law
University of the West of England2019–2021Deputy Head of Department, Bristol Law School

Playing career

Celtic Dragons

Between 2005 and 2013, Hale played for Celtic Dragons in the Netball Super League. In 2005, she was a founding member of the Dragons team. She was a member the Dragons team that finished as runners up in the 2013 Netball Superleague, losing 62–56 to Team Bath in the grand final.

Manchester Thunder

Ahead of the 2014 Netball Superleague season, Hale joined Manchester Thunder. However, in March 2014, during a match against Hertfordshire Mavericks, she suffered a season ending ACL injury. Between 2015 and 2018, Hale served as a member of Thunder's coaching staff, working with Tracey Neville and Liana Leota. She initially worked as a defensive coach.

Wales

Between 2002 and 2014, Hale made 81 senior appearances for Wales. She played for an Emerging Wales team at the 2002 FENA Open. On 26 July 2002, Hale made her senior debut for Wales against Sri Lanka at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. She subsequently went on to represent Wales at the 2006 Commonwealth Games and at the 2003, 2007 and 2011 World Netball Championships. At a 2011 World Netball Championships Qualifier she became only the seventh Wales netball international to make her 50th senior appearance. Alongside Suzy Drane, she co-captained Wales at the 2011 World Netball Championships. She was a member of the Wales teams that won the 2010 Netball Singapore Nations Cup and the 2013 Netball Europe Open Championship. On 27 February 2014, she made her final appearance for Wales in the Northern Cup final win against Scotland. Out of 81 games Hale drew 1, won 46 and lost 34, giving her a win rate of 56.79%.
TournamentsPlace
2002 FENA Open
2002 Commonwealth Games6th
2003 FENA Open
2003 World Netball Championships14th
2004 FENA Open
2005 FENA Open2nd
2006 FENA Open2nd
2006 Commonwealth Games8th
2007 World Netball Championships Qualifiers1st
2007 World Netball Championships12th
2008 FENA Open4th
2009 Netball Europe Open Championship
2010 Netball Europe Open Championship2nd
2011 World Netball Championships Qualifier – Europe2nd
2010 Netball Singapore Nations Cup1st
2011 Netball Europe Open Championship2nd
2011 World Netball Championships9th
2012 Netball Europe Open Championship3rd
2013 Netball Europe Open Championship1st
2014 Northern Cup1st

Coaching career

England

Between 2016 and 2018, Hale served as an assistant coach to Tracey Neville with England, including at the 2016 Netball Quad Series.

Wales

Between 2018 and 2020, Hale served as an assistant coach to Wales head coach, Julie Hoornweg. During this time Wales were runners up at the 2019 Netball Europe Open Championships and finished 2019 seven matches undefeated. In February 2020, Hale succeeded Hoornweg as Wales head coach. Under Hale's leadership, Wales won the 2022 Wendy White Trophy Series, qualified for the 2022 Commonwealth Games via the World Netball Rankings and eventually finished 8th at the main tournament itself. She was also head coach when Wales won the 2023 Netball World Cup Regional Qualifier for Europe.
TournamentsPlace
2022 Wendy White Trophy Series1st
2022 Commonwealth Games8th
2023 Netball World Cup Regional Qualifier – Europe1st

Administrator

In November 2022, Hale, now known as Sara Moore, was appointed Head of Elite for Performance at Wales Netball. This role involved overseeing both the Wales national netball team and the Celtic Dragons franchise. One of her of earliest tasks was to recruit a new Wales head coach. She remained in this role until June 2025.

Personal life

In March 2013, it was reported that Hale had a brief relationship with the then Sheffield Wednesday manager, Dave Jones. Since 2021, she has been married to the former Wales rugby union international, Steve Moore.

Honours

Player

;Wales
;Celtic Dragons
;Wales
  • Netball World Cup Qualifiers
  • *Winners: 2023