Stembridge named England coach for 2027 Netball World Cup

England have appointed Anna Stembridge as their head coach through to the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney. Anna Stembridge first led England as head coach from 2011 to 2015 The 45-year-old, who took over as interim head coach in March after Jess Thirlby stepped down, failed to guide the Roses to a medal at the Commonwealth Games in August but has been given the go-ahead to continue with the team. London Mavericks head coach Tamsin Greenway and NSW Swifts assistant Jo Harten – both England netball legends – will join Stembridge's coaching team. Former Wales international Stembridge led the Roses to fourth place at the 2014 Commonwealth Games and a first series win over Australia in 2013 during a first spell as head coach.

She then served as an assistant coach to Thirlby from 2024. In August, Stembridge said she would "reassess" whether she could continue as head coach, with an open recruitment process taking place. England Netball chair Baroness Sue Campbell said Stembridge was the outstanding candidate and demonstrated "a clear sense of what is needed to take the team forward". Stembridge said: "Building on the experience that the squad and I had at the Commonwealth Games, I'm fiercely focused on putting us in a position where we can compete for a medal at the World Cup next