Wales national netball team


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 1 September 2025, Wales are listed 6th on the World Netball Rankings.

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 national netball team|England Scotland national netball team|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 and to Scotland. 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

Netball World Cup

Wales have been regular participants in World Netball Championships and Netball World Cups. They did'nt 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.
TournamentsPlace
1963 World Netball Championships10th
1971 World Netball Championships7th
1975 World Netball Championships6th
1979 World Netball Championships6th
1983 World Netball Championships8th
1987 World Netball Championships13th
1991 World Netball Championships7th
1995 World Netball Championships17th
1999 World Netball Championships14th
2003 World Netball Championships14th
2007 World Netball Championships12th
2011 World Netball Championships9th
2015 Netball World Cup7th
2023 Netball World Cup9th

Commonwealth Games

Wales have been regular participants in Netball at the Commonwealth Games. Their highest ever finish came in [Netball at the Netball at the 2002 Commonwealth Games|2002 Commonwealth Games|2002] when they finished 6th.
TournamentsPlace
2002 Commonwealth Games6th
2006 Commonwealth Games8th
2014 Commonwealth Games8th
2018 Commonwealth Games11th
2022 Commonwealth Games8th

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.
TournamentsPlace
2024 Celtic Cup1st
2025 Celtic Cup3rd

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.
TournamentsPlace
1998 FENA Open
1999 FENA Open
2000 FENA Open
2001 FENA Open1st
2002 FENA Open
2003 FENA Open
2004 FENA Open
2005 FENA Open2nd
2006 FENA Open2nd
2007 FENA Open2nd
2008 FENA Open4th
2009 Netball Europe Open Championships4th
2010 Netball Europe Open Championships2nd
2011 Netball Europe Open Championships2nd
2012 Netball Europe Open Championships3rd
2013 Netball Europe Open Championships1st
2014 Netball Europe Open Championships1st
2015 Netball Europe Open Championships3rd
2016 Netball Europe Open Championships2nd
2017 Netball Europe Open Championships4th
2019 Netball Europe Open Championships2nd

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.
TournamentsPlace
2017 Wendy White Trophy Series 2nd
2017 Wendy White Trophy Series 1st
2019 Wendy White Trophy Series2nd
2022 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.
TournamentsPlace
2010 Netball Singapore Nations Cup1st

Notable players

Welsh Sports Hall of Fame

The following Wales netball internationals have been inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame.
InductedPlayerAppearancesYears
2007Helen Weston1111982–2002
2019Wendy White71963
2023Suzy Drane1252005–2022

Former players

Honours