Familiar faces dominate our shooting end with Georgia Rowe, Phillipa Yarranton and Laura Rudland retuning, and Hannah Passmore making the move from Team Bath to Cardiff Dragons this season.
Georgia Rowe is back again for another season! After a dominant Netball World Cup with the Welsh Feathers, Georgia is certain to replicate her world class shooting form this season for Dragons. Georgia has notched up over 90% shooting accuracy for the past four seasons in Netball Super League and displayed impressive performances against the best defenders in the world whilst in Cape Town, bagging herself a Player of the Match award.
Phillipa will once again pair up with Welsh Feathers teammate Georgia Rowe this season and this exciting new partnership is set to build following their success at the Netball World Cup. Phillipa was a Training Partner in 2023 and has been elevated to the 12 for 2024, following a string of standout performances for Dragons and Wales. Phillipa made her Netball World Cup debut in the first match of the competition and won the Player of the Match award after a dominant display against Trinidad and Tobago.
Equally as deadly at Wing Attack or Goal Attack, Laura Rudland returns for her fourth season with Dragons. Laura had a solid 2023 season and stepped up to the Goal Attack position with ease when it mattered most for Dragons! Laura brings a wealth of experience and knowledge and was a part of the Leadership Grouplast season. We are delighted to welcome Laura back to Cardiff Dragons once again!
Hannah joins Dragons from local rivals Team Bath. Hannah covers both the Goal Attack and Goal Shooter positions and 2024 will mark Hannah’s sixth season in top-flight netball, despite her only being 22 years of age. Hannah was a part of the Team Bath’s development pathway for a number of years, playing NPL at U19 and U21 levels. She also played for the England U21 squad. Hannah will add a different dynamic to the Dragons shooting circle, with her movement and her ability to hold!
Forming a strong shooting unit for Cardiff Dragons this season, next up is our mid-court.
A refresh of the midcourt this season see’s former Dragons captain, Nia Jones, returning alongside Elle McDonald, Beth Ecuyer-Dale, and South African Khanyisa Chawane who also make their way to Cardiff this season.
Nia made her debut for Dragons back in 2013 and is now back to the newly rebranded Cardiff Dragons hoping to add to her 64 appearances for the club. Nia captained the Welsh Feathers at the Netball World Cup and is relishing a return to Cardiff for the 2024 season.
Nia is joined by former Leeds Rhino’s teammate Elle McDonald. Elle played her netball in Australia for the Melbourne Vixens before moving to the Adelaide Thunderbirds. Elle then moved to England to play for Leeds Rhinos and was selected to represent the England Vitality Roses. Elle also made her England Vitality Roses debut last year against Jamaica in the final game of the Vitality Netball International Series in January 2023. Elle has recently been selected to represent the Roses again on their tour to New Zealand later this month.
Beth Ecuyer-Dale joins us from Saracens Mavericks after graduating from their pathway and representing them for seven years. Beth made her NSL debut in 2020 and has gone from strength to strength. Beth made nine NSL appearances for Mavericks in 2023, with 174 feeds, two intercepts, a deflection and three turnovers.
Coming from South Africa is mid court maestro Khanyisa ‘KC’ Chawane. KC was a part of the South African Spar Proteas Netball World Cup squad in 2019 that finished 4th and represented the Proteas again in the 2023 Netball World Cup in her home country. KC has previously played for teams in her home country of South Africa, and for Team Bath in the Netball Super League. KC covers all three mid court positions.
A powerful mid court line up joining our strong shooting unit this season, next is our 2024 defensive circle.
A new team identity and new additions feature in our 2024 squad announcements! Cardiff Dragons welcomes back Lucy Howells, alongside three new editions, Nansi Kuti, Leah Middleton, and Jacqui Newton, who make up the defensive end this season!
Lucy Howells is back! Lucy debuted for Dragons in 2019 and is now back for 2024. Lucy can play across all three defensive positions (GD/GK/WD) and represented the Welsh Feathers at the Netball World Cup in Cape Town, displaying some solid performances against top ranking opposition.
Nansi Kuti was a Training Associate last year and has been elevated into the squad this season. Nansi also represented the Welsh Feathers at the Netball World Cup, where she gained her first international cap. Nansi can also play in the Goal Shooter position, making her a versatile and valuable asset for the Franchise.
From Surrey Storm to Cardiff Dragons, Leah Middleton will wear the green dress in 2024. Leah played a key role for Surrey Storm last season, helping them secure a spot in the semi-finals. Leah notched up an impressive 18 interceptions, 42 deflections, and 44 turnovers for the season.
Joining us all the way from Melbourne, Australia, is Jacqui Newton. Jacqui played for Collingwood Magpies last season and has previously played for Melbourne Vixens in the Suncorp Super Netball league and played for Victorian Fury in the ANL league. Jacqui plays in both the Goal Defence and Goal Keeper positions.
A fierce squad of 12 forming our Cardiff Dragons for the 2024 season!
Our 2024 Training Partners are Zoe Matthewman, Shona O’Dwyer, and Millie Carter!
Shooter Zoe Matthewman is back for another season. Zoe made her debut for Dragons in 2023 and we are delighted to have her back for the 2024 season. Zoe has recently represented the Welsh Feathers at the Netball World Cup in Cape Town.
Our pocket rocket is back again! Mid courter, Shona O’Dwyer, is returning for her fifth season. Shona made her debut for Celtic Dragons in 2020 and we are thrilled to have her in green and grey for yet another season! As well as being a Dragon, Shona plays internationally for Wales and represented the Welsh Feathers at the Netball World Cup this summer.
Millie Carter is returning for another year; the young defender has plenty of potential and secures her Training Partner spot again this season. Millie is a Welsh Feather and was named as a reserve for the Netball World Cup. Millie made her debut for Dragons last season on the 4th of March against Saracens Mavericks, making her Dragon #110.
