New name, plenty of new faces in green in 2024
IT is the dawn of a new era at the Dragons, with a new name and plenty of new faces at what was the Celtic Dragons ahead of 2024.
The Netball Super League (NSL) club that was previously known as the Celtic Dragons is now known as the Cardiff Dragons, and throughout this week have been revealing who is in their 2024 NSL side, and there are a lot of new faces.
The defensive end is totally new.
Nansi Kuti is a new face to the NSL, making the step up from being a Training Associate with the Dragons to a fully fledged member of the team.
Lucy Howells is coming back to Cardiff after last playing for the side in 2019, while Leah Middleton is also coming across from the Storm.
The final new defender is Jacqui Newton, with the Aussie leaving a hectic Australian netball scene behind to come join the Welsh side.
The midfield is all completely new too.
There is one retuning face, with Welsh national captain Nia Jones coming back to Cardiff after spending a year at the Rhinos, and she is not the only former Rhino making the move to the green dress with Elle McDonald also moving to the Dragons.
Beth Ecuyer-Dale has come across from the Mavericks while South African Khanyisa Chawane is also joining the Welsh side.
The shooting contingent has seen far less movement, with only one new face in the group.
Phillipa Yarranton, Laura Rudland and Georgia Rowe are all returning, while Hannah Passmore is coming across from Bath.
The Dragons have also announced that Zoe Matthewman, Shona O’Dwyer and Millie Carter will be their training partners for 2024.
This squad announcement means that Chelsea Beard, Gabrielle Sinclair, Hannah Leighton, Clare Jones, Annabel Roddy, Ally Housley, Ella Powell-Davies and Shaquanda Greene-Noel are not returning to the club in 2024.
Cardiff Dragons 2024 Squad
Nansi Kuti, Lucy Howells, Jacqui Newton, Leah Middleton, Khanyisa ‘KC’ Chawane, Beth Ecuyer-Dale, Elle McDonald, Nia Jones, Phillipa Yarranton, Laura Rudland, Georgia Rowe, Hannah Passmore
Diamonds delve into positives despite disapointing result
DESPITE having already lost the series, the Australian Diamonds still came away from Wednesday night’s final Constellation Cup match with something to smile about having convincingly won the final test. Reflecting on it all post match, Diamonds’ head coach Stacey Marinkovich described the importance of winning the match to bookend the year as “huge”. “I […]
Silver Ferns don’t clean sweep but still come away happy
WEDNESDAY’s final Constellation Cup match brought mixed emotions for New Zealand, because although they lost that match they were still able to celebrate post match because they had already won the whole series. Speaking after Wednesday night’s final test of the series, Silver Ferns coach Dame Noeline Taurua was reflective of it all. “I thought […]
Kelpies big winners, but big picture shows plenty to still be done
DESPITE how things went for the Australian Diamonds in their recent Constellation Cup series against New Zealand, things could not have been more different for the Australian Kelpies, who clean swept their series with the Kiwis after a 71 to 39 goal win in game four yesterday. Speaking after yesterday’s match, star Kelpies’ defender Josh […]
Diamonds win match, but Kiwis still come away with big prize
THE AUSTRALIAN Diamonds have avoided an undesired series whitewash against New Zealand, winning the final match of the 2024 Constellation Cup 63 goals to 50. Proceedings were tight early, but then the Diamonds were able to really put their foot down in the second and third quarters to really open up the game on […]
Lightning strikes twice for Hobson
IMAGINE going in for a routine scan to see how your body is holding up and being told you had no ACL (anterior cruciate ligament). Being told that the previous surgery you had five years ago wasn’t performed correctly. Being told you had to have a corrective surgery right when you were climbing up ever […]
Kiwis claim series over disappointed Aussies
NEW ZEALAND has won the 2024 Constellation Cup after beating Australia 61-43 in the third test to claim the series. Diamonds’ coach Stacey Marinkovich swung the changes pre match, making three changes to the match day squad and a couple to the starting seven, but ultimately the outcome was the same result. By contrast New […]
NXT Gen League details revealed
IT WAS another important day in English netball overnight with important information released about the new Under 23 feeder league for the Netball Super League (NSL). Confirmed as the NXT Gen League, it has been designed as a development league for younger players trying to get into the NSL. Although most players named in the […]
Kiwis go two up, but not all hope lost for Aussies
NEW ZEALAND’S stranglehold of Constellation Cup matches in New Zealand has continued, after downing Australia again to take a 2-0 lead in the 2024 series. In what might have felt like a sense of déjà vu for Australia and its fans, New Zealand had a strong first half which really catapulted them to the successful […]
Celtic Cup squads begin to be announced
THREE of the four nations competing at the upcoming Celtic Cup have announced their squads for the series over the last few days. Northern Ireland has arguably the biggest names of the three announced squads so far, with Netball Super League stalwarts Michelle Magee, Emma Magee and Niamh Cooper all included. Northern Ireland coach Shenoah […]
