Natalie Metcalf (née Haythornthwaite; born 9 December 1992) is an English netball player.[2][3] She was part of the England squad that won gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games.[4] She was appointed captain of the England team in 2022[5] and led them to their first Netball World Cup final a year later, where they finished runner up to Australia.[6]
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Born |
9 December 1992 Barrowford, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 174 cm (5 ft 8+1⁄2 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| University | University of Leeds & Leeds Beckett University | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Netball career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position(s): WA, GA | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Club team(s) | Apps | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2015 | Yorkshire Jets | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016, 2022 | Manchester Thunder | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2018 | Wasps Netball | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2021 | New South Wales Swifts | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022– | Manchester Thunder | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | National team(s) | Caps | |||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015–present |
 England | 86 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| (Correct as of 4 February 2024[1]) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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Club career
editMetcalf played for Manchester Thunder and Wasps Netball in the English Superleague, winning consecutive premierships with the Wasps in 2017 and 2018.[7] She played for the New South Wales Swifts in the Australian Super Netball league as a replacement player for some games in late 2018, before being permanently picked up by the Swifts for the 2019 season.[8][1]
Metcalf announced in September 2021 that she would be leaving Australia to return to the UK.[9] She rejoined Manchester Thunder for 2022 .[10]
International career
editDespite an injury-interrupted start to the season, Haythornthwaite was selected in the England 12-player squad for the 2019 Netball World Cup.[11]
She was named vice captain of the England Team for the Netball Quad Series commencing 15 January 2022 against Australia, New Zealand and South Africa. [12]
Personal life
editIn 2021, Natalie announced she would be getting married. At the end of December 2021, she married Josh Metcalf and changed her name from Natalie Haythornthwaite to Natalie Metcalf. On 8 November 2024, Natalie announced her pregnancy and will not take part in the 2025 Netball Superleague or any international matches. [13]
References
edit- ^ a b "Nat Haythornthwaite (player profile)". nwc2019.co.uk. Retrieved 8 July 2019.
- ^ "Natalie Haythornthwaite". Gold Coast 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
- ^ "Natalie Haythornthwaite ready to tackle Aussies on home turf in Commonwealth Games". Lancashire Telegraph. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
- ^ "Result - Netball Gold Medal Match". Gold Coast 2018. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
- ^ "Commonwealth Games 2022: Natalie Metcalf to captain England". BBC Sport. 20 June 2022. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "Netball World Cup 2023 final: What next for 'gutted but grateful' England after Australia loss?". BBC Sport. 6 August 2023. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
- ^ "Natalie Haythornthwaite signs for Wasps Netball". Sky Sports. 2 September 2016.
- ^ "Natalie Haythornthwaite: England attacker leaves Wasps Netball to join NSW Swifts". BBC Sport. 3 September 2018.
- ^ "Haythornthwaite heads home to England with dreams fulfilled". New South Wales Swifts. 14 September 2021.
- ^ "Thunder Superleague Squad 2022 - Manchester Thunder". 14 October 2021.
- ^ "England squad for the Vitality Netball World Cup revealed". 23 May 2019. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019.
- ^ "Vitality Roses squad announced for Netball Quad Series". 20 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
- ^ "Haythornthwaite heads home to England with dreams fulfilled". New South Wales Swifts. 14 September 2021.