England Netball has officially confirmed the appointment of Anna Stembridge as the permanent head coach of the Vitality Roses. She will lead the national team through to the 2027 Netball World Cup, which is scheduled to take place in Sydney, Australia.
Stembridge had been serving as the interim head coach since March 2026, following the sudden resignation of Jess Thirlby. Her appointment provides stability for the squad as they prepare for the upcoming global tournament, which runs from 25 August to 5 September 2027.
The 45-year-old coach brings significant experience to the role, having previously served as England head coach between 2011 and 2015. During that initial tenure, she guided the team to a historic series victory over Australia in 2013.
Following her first stint in charge, Stembridge remained involved with the England setup, serving as an assistant coach to Thirlby from September 2024. Her recent interim period included leading the team at the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
At the 2026 Commonwealth Games, the Roses finished in fourth place after a defeat to Australia in the bronze medal match. Despite missing out on a podium finish, England Netball officials expressed confidence in her leadership and strategic direction.
Baroness Sue Campbell, chair of England Netball, described Stembridge as the outstanding candidate for the position. She noted that the coach demonstrated a clear sense of what is needed to take the team forward in the coming years.
Reflecting on her permanent appointment, Stembridge expressed her gratitude, stating that leading the team to the World Cup represents the ultimate coaching ambition. She described the opportunity as an absolute honour and a role she feels privileged to hold.
Stembridge emphasised her focus on ensuring the squad is prepared to compete for a medal, building on the experience gained during the Commonwealth Games. She is determined to put the team in a position to challenge at the highest level.
To bolster her coaching staff, Stembridge has recruited two prominent figures in the sport, Tamsin Greenway and Jo Harten. Both women enjoyed distinguished international careers representing England on the world stage and bring a wealth of tactical knowledge.
Greenway currently serves as the head coach of the London Mavericks in the Netball Super League. Her previous international experience includes a three-year spell as the head coach of the Scotland national team between 2020 and 2023.
Jo Harten, a former England star, brings valuable insight from the Australian netball scene, where she currently works as an assistant coach for the NSW Swifts. Her presence is expected to provide a significant tactical advantage for the team.
England Netball has confirmed that it will collaborate closely with the London Mavericks and NSW Swifts to manage the dual responsibilities of the new coaching staff. This arrangement aims to balance domestic club commitments with international duties effectively.
The 2027 World Cup represents a significant challenge for the Roses, who were beaten finalists in the 2023 edition of the tournament. In that final, England fell to Australia, and the team is eager to improve upon that result.
Stembridge is a former Wales international who earned 45 caps during her playing career. Her transition into coaching has seen her become one of the most experienced figures within the English netball structure over the past decade.
During her first period as head coach, she also led England to a fourth-place finish at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Her deep knowledge of the current player pool and the international landscape is viewed as a vital asset.
The appointment follows an open recruitment process that took place after the Commonwealth Games. Stembridge had previously indicated that she would reassess her future before committing to the permanent head coach role, which she has now officially accepted.
With the coaching team now finalised, the focus shifts to the long-term preparations for the World Cup. The squad will look to build on the foundations laid during the recent international season under the guidance of Stembridge.
England Netball continues to invest in its high-performance programme, with the country also set to host the 2031 Netball World Cup. The development of the current squad remains a priority for the governing body as they look ahead.
The team will now look to refine its tactical approach and player selection ahead of upcoming international fixtures. Stembridge's leadership will be tested as she aims to mould a squad capable of securing a podium finish in Sydney.
Fans and analysts will be watching closely to see how the partnership between Stembridge, Greenway, and Harten evolves. The trio is tasked with maintaining England's competitive standing among the world's top netball nations in the lead-up to 2027.
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