Wales’s netball international players, past and present, now have their own unique numbers following the introduction of a new recognition system.

From the first caps awarded in 1949, every player who has taken the court to represent Wales in an official international has been numbered according to the sequence in which they made their first appearance. With three new players – Stephanie Murphy, Emma Thomas and Sophie Morgan – making their international debuts at the Netball Europe event last weekend, the total number of players to have worn the Wales dress now stands at 189. The next new cap will be number 190. Players already capped will have their number embroidered on their dress for the match or tournament in question.

Wales’s most capped international player Helen Weston (111 caps) presented the players with their dresses, which for those players already capped included their unique number, in a private ceremony before the first match against England in Cardiff. In turn, the team presented Helen with a Wales dress with her own number (102) on it.

^ Back to Top of Page

Wales Captain Suzy Drane said:
“This is a fabulous initiative and I know that it’s got a lot of the former international players talking as well as the girls in and around the current squad. It’s nice to know that we’re all part of Welsh Netball history and it’s another incentive for the players of the future to aspire to represent their country.”

Sara Hale appeared in all three matches in Netball Europe and therefore finished the weekend on 49. Her next appearance for Wales means that she will become only the eighth player to reach the 50 cap milestone for Wales.

The full list, put together by Board member Wendy White, herself a former international player (number 55), is now on the website.

With effect from the World Championship qualifiers in June the senior squad kit will include a more modern version of the Welsh feathers, but it will be the only one to sport the feathers. The new Welsh Netball corporate logo will appear on the kit for other representative age group squads such as Under-17s and Under-19s.