Stembridge appointed new England netball head coach — SkimNews
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- Anna Stembridge has been appointed England netball head coach through to the 2027 Netball World Cup in Sydney, having held the role on an interim basis since March.
- Stembridge previously led England from 2011 to 2015, a stint that included the side's historic first series win over Australia in 2013.
- Jess Thirlby's shock resignation four months before the 2026 Commonwealth Games triggered the interim arrangement; England finished fourth in Glasgow after losing the bronze medal match to Australia.
- Tamsin Greenway and Jo Harten join the coaching staff through next year's World Cup in August and September, with England Netball to work closely with London Mavericks and NSW Swifts to accommodate their existing club roles.
- Stembridge, a former Wales international with 45 caps, has been England's assistant coach since September 2024.
Why it matters: Stembridge gets the permanent job less than a year out from a World Cup, after a 2026 Commonwealth Games campaign that ended in a fourth-place finish and an Australia bronze-medal loss. The coaching group of Greenway and Harten keeps two active Super League and Super Netball coaches in situ, with England Netball explicitly committing to manage their club workloads around the international cycle.
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