
Sixth in world is 'incredible' for Welsh Feathers
Head of performance Sara Moore says reaching number six in the world for the first time is "an incredible milestone for Wales Netball".The Welsh Feathers' highest ever world ranking follows an undefeated 2024-2025 campaign."To achieve the highest ranking in our history is a testament to the hard work, commitment and talent of our players, coaches, and staff," added Moore. "I am confident that we will continue to build on this success and I will be working closely with [coach] Emily Handyside and the team as we head towards the Netball World Cup in 2027, to ensure that the Welsh Feathers remain among the best in the world."There is no change to the top five in the rankings which are led by Australia, followed by New Zealand, Jamaica and England.Wales, with a rating of 124, are 39 points behind fifth-placed South Africa and two points ahead of Uganda.
Wales Netball chief executive Sarah Boswell has called for more funding to maintain their progress."Wales Netball's rise from ninth to sixth in the world rankings is proof of what can be achieved with dedication and talent, but to sustain and build on this success, investment is critical," said Boswell."In 2025, I want to see a real acceleration in investment - financial, structural, and cultural - into the game. With three huge years ahead, the Youth World Cup in Gibraltar in 2025, the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2026, and the World Cup in Australia in 2027, now is the time to back Wales Netball. "This isn't just about funding the game, it's about strengthening the entire ecosystem: coaching pathways, media representation, commercial opportunities, and grassroots development. "Women's sport isn't an add-on, it's a powerhouse deserving of real, long-term commitment."
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Independent
28 minutes ago
- The Independent
London City Lionesses announce high-profile signing of Danielle van de Donk
33-year-old midfielder, Danielle van de Donk, joined London City Lionesses on a free transfer following the expiry of her contract at French giants Lyon, now rebranded OL Lyonnes. Both OL Lyonnes and London City are part of Michele Kang's growing portfolio in women's football with the American investor continuing to make waves across Europe. This marks a significant first signing for the Lionesses ahead of their inaugural WSL campaign after they clinched the Championship title in May. The club operates independently of any men's team - setting it apart in a league dominated by affiliated giants like Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester United. Van de Donk brings with her a wealth of experience and a winning streak. She lifted the WSL trophy with Arsenal in 2019 and played a central role in the Netherlands' European Championship victory in 2017, later helping the team reach the 2019 World Cup final. Speaking after the announcement, van de Donk said: 'I feel really good about this decision. It's such a nice environment to be in, the club really appeals to me, it reminds me of a little family, and I want to be a part of it. The project that London City have, it's different but in a good way. London City have to battle for everything and that's my style.' The veteran midfielder has penned a two year deal and will be central to a team aiming to challenge the established order in English women's football. Elsewhere in the women's game the FA has confirmed plans to expand the WSL to 14 teams starting from the 2026-27 season, a move that signals continued growth and investment in the top tier. In the third tier Burnley have appointed two time WSL winning manager Matt Beard as their new head coach, making headlines as they gear up for a transition to full time professionalism. The former Liverpool manager was in advanced discussions with Burnley and told the club's media channels: 'I'm so impressed with everybody I've met at the club and the conversations I've had, and I'm looking forward to getting started.' Beard, who was previously in charge at Chelsea and West Ham, arrives with the club preparing to become a full-time women's football operation from next season.


Wales Online
38 minutes ago
- Wales Online
Lions v Argentina referee James Doleman was caught up in 'throat-slitting' incident
Lions v Argentina referee James Doleman was caught up in 'throat-slitting' incident The British & Irish Lions kick off their summer schedule with a match against Argentina in Dublin on Friday night Referee James Doleman (L) sends the Hurricanes' captain Ardie Savea to the sin-bin (Image: WILLIAM WEST/AFP via Getty Images ) The British & Irish Lions get their summer under way tonight with a date against Argentina in Dublin. The 1888 Cup is on the line in the Irish capital and will be the first opportunity for players from the four unions to lay down a marker for starting spots in Australia next week. The Lions are playing three Tests against the Wallabies in a series which is really beginning to raise excitement levels. In charge of the game tonight is referee James Doleman, who made his Six Nations debut in 2023. Here's all you need to know about the New Zealand-born official. Who is James Doleman? Hailing from Tauranga, New Zealand, Doleman spent a significant part of his youth in the Philippines and China, starting his refereeing career while still a student. His first game was in 2007 at the age of 16, overseeing an under-nines match at a school tournament in Hong Kong, although he humbly confessed that his initial outing was "rubbish". After officiating the World Rugby Under-20 Championship final in 2019, he ascended to handling his first Super Rugby game in the subsequent year and made his international refereeing debut the year before he was selected for the Australia versus England Test series opener in 2022. Article continues below Doleman embraced his Six Nations refereeing debut at just 31 years old during England's second-round fight against Italy in 2023. Upon receiving the appointment, he shared with South China Morning Post: "It's one of those goals as a referee. Aside from the World Cup, the Six Nations is the pinnacle." He added: "Being involved in a tournament like that, with the history, coming from New Zealand, the fans up north make the Six Nations very special. At the end of the day, referees get into refereeing because we're fans of rugby. The reason I do it is to be involved in those occasions." Jones criticism However, Doleman faced criticism from England's former coach Eddie Jones after overseeing a match where England lost 30-28 to an Australian side that was one man down for more than 45 minutes. In a turn of events during the game, Australia's Darcy Swain was sent off for headbutting Jonny Hill, but despite this, the Wallabies managed to secure a significant lead and subsequently resisted England's late surge to claim their first victory over the Red Roses after eight previous defeats. Jones' team suffered their fourth consecutive defeat, leaving the coach visibly annoyed after the match. He suggested referee Doleman was "evening things up" for Australia following Swain's sending off, stating he had observed similar responses to red cards in the past. "That always happens," he proclaimed. "You look at the history of the game, whenever you get a red card the referee evens it up. That's normal and we've got to be good enough to handle it. "When you play against 14 men the referee has a significant impact on the game and you've got to be good enough to understand what that is and we weren't good enough to understand what that is. And therefore we paid the price." 'Throat-slitting' incident Doleman was at the heart of a shocking episode that sent ripples across rugby in 2023 when New Zealand's Ardie Savea made a chilling gesture at an opponent during a game. It occurred just prior to the interval in the Super Rugby tie between Melbourne Rebels and Savea's Hurricanes, when a massive scuffle erupted. It featured Dane Coles and Rebels second-rower Josh Canham going head-to-head, with both sides jumping in to calm the commotion. In the midst of the fracas, Savea forcefully knocked Rebels fly-half Carter Gordon to the ground, leading to a heated verbal exchange after which Gordon chose to walk away. Doleman, after conferring with his assistant referees Paul Williams and Graham Cooper, determined that while the initial tussle between Canham and Coles was nothing more than "push and shove", it was Savea who had indeed intensified the confrontation. Savea, who had already been penalised for another infringement, received a yellow card for his actions. He attracted ironic applause from Rebels scrum-half Ryan Louwrens as he left the field, triggering an incensed reaction from the back-rower, who gestured towards Louwrens with a throat-slitting motion. The commentary team was visibly shocked by Savea's gesture, and Doleman's microphone caught someone exclaiming: "He's threatening to f*****g kill him, he's threatening to kill him." Savea offered an apology post-match, conceding that his behaviour was not befitting for younger spectators. "I can understand the fans are furious with the gesture that I made," Savea explained to Sky Sports. "It's just a heat of the moment kind of thing, you know. It's footy, but I understand kids are watching us. Article continues below "We're in the heat of the moment and that's out of character for me, so I put my hand up first and apologise for that. I've got to be better, we're trying to clean up the game. I understand... there's no excuse for me, I've got to be better." Lions v Argentina officials Referee: James Doleman (NZ) Assistant referees: Nika Amashukeli (Geo) & Andrea Piardi (Ita) TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra) FPRO: Matteo Liperini (Ita)


Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
Luke Humphries weighs in on Luke Littler's feud with darts icon after England duo were accused of 'letting their country down' at World Cup
Luke Humphries has weighed in on Luke Litter's feud with a darts icon after the world No 1 and 2 were accused of 'letting their country down' at the World Cup. The duo, who are widely regarded as the best two players in the world given both their rankings, recent World Championship success and their major wins, teamed up to represent England at the World Cup of Darts last week. They were heavy favourites to take home the crown - which would have meant Humphries would have defended the title he won a year earlier with Michael Smith - but they crashed out in the first round. After skipping the group stage due to being seeded, England were drawn against home favourites Germany in the first knockout stage, and were targeted by the crowd from the off as they fell to defeat by Martin Schindler and Ricardo Pietreczko. After, Dennis Priestley, a double world champion, opened fire at Littler and Humphries as he accused the team of 'letting their country down' and claimed they didn't deserve their MBEs. Littler hit back, and Humphries has now too weighed in - though with a slightly more toned down response. Littler claimed he did more for darts in 12 months than icon Dennis Priestley 'ever did' 'Disappointing to hear a top former pro who I admired ay such a damaging thing to me and Luke,' Humphries wrote on X. 'I didn't let my country down last year tho did I. 'One bad game for us and we will be back next year to go again. Let's move on now.' He accompanied the post with a hiding emoji and laughing emoji. Littler, meanwhile, took a more aggressive stance. In a hastily deleted Instagram story, he wrote: 'Don't deserve an MBE but done more in 12 months than he ever did... that's what I would say anyway.' Priestley had told OLBG in full: 'Luke Littler and Luke Humphries let their country down at the World Cup of Darts. From what we've heard they weren't sitting together or practising together. 'When I was playing in pairs with Phil Taylor we practised together and sat together, we played all over the world and I only remember us getting beaten once. 'To be brutally honest, I don't think either Luke Littler or Luke Humphries have done enough to earn their MBEs just yet.' Priestley holds the distinction of being the first player to win both the PDC and the BDO World Championships, though the latter was dissolved in 2020. A former coal merchant from Yorkshire, Priestley, nicknamed 'the Menace,' only entered the professional darts circuit in his late 30s. Gerwyn Price claimed Littler and Humphries played 'rubbish' and questioned their teamwork He added: 'I think in time they could've done enough to warrant it (the MBE) but it feels very early, they have both won one World Championship each and are still young in their careers. 'Littler has been recognised for raising the popularity of darts which is great, but he can still do so much more. 'If he is getting an MBE this soon then you'd have to think he is on the right path to a knighthood, nothing would surprise me now.' Rival and Welshman Gerwyn Price stuck his boot in on the two Lukes too, saying during the tournament: 'When we turned up on the first day, and I'm not just saying this because they lost, but the only two players that didn't turn up together, didn't sit together, didn't play as a team - I'm not saying who they are - but they didn't win their first game. 'You need to turn up together, you need to be as a team, you practice together, you sit together, it's a team ethic. It didn't show with England, and it showed on the board. 'They are great players individually, but you need to be a team. 'You need that team ethic. You need to be as a team all the way through but it didn't happen.