Scotland's Commonwealth Games Netball Squad Announced
Emily Nicholl, captain of the Scottish Thistles netball team, describes this summer's shortened Commonwealth Games as "a really unique opportunity" to highlight the sport of netball. The Games, taking place in Glasgow next month, will feature only 10 sports, with netball among them.
Scotland first competed in netball at the Commonwealth Games when the event was last hosted in Glasgow in 2014. At that time, Nicholl was a 10-year-old spectator.
"I have first-hand experience of the impact a home games has and the fact that it really truly gave me belief and inspired me as to what is possible," the 32-year-old told BBC Scotland.
"Because, before that, I didn't really know who the Thistles were to a great extent, so it did put them in the limelight and I think it was the start of a springboard for Scottish netball.
"The benefit of a reduced games is that the spotlight is really on the 10 sports and we are the only traditional team sport that is being played - and the only female dominant sport as well, so we have a really unique opportunity here to grab hold of."
Team Scotland Netball Squad Details
Emily Nicholl has been selected for Team Scotland's 12-player netball squad. The team includes Lexy Gillies, Cerys Cairns, Cerys Finn, Hannah Grant, and Jazmine Moore, all of whom will make their Commonwealth Games debuts.
Veteran players Bethan Goodwin, Niamh McCall, and Nicholl herself will be competing in their third Commonwealth Games, having previously represented Scotland at the Gold Coast 2018 and Birmingham 2022 Games. Additionally, Iona Christian, Emma Barrie, Rachel Conway, and Hannah Leighton were members of the squad four years ago.
Leadership and Experience
As Scotland's captain and the most-capped player in the squad with 61 international appearances, Nicholl embraces the responsibility.
"I love the thought of being that leader," she said. "The girls know that I will give absolutely everything, 100% of my body, everything for our performance.
"One of my superpowers I would say is my relentless ability on the court just to constantly hustle. I am quite animated and, with that, hope to then inspire the rest of the girls."
Path to Elite Netball
Despite being known as a "netball geek" due to her extensive knowledge of game statistics, Nicholl was a late entrant to elite netball.
"I wasn't in the Scotland pathway and I never got a cap at any of the age group levels and it wasn't until my fourth year at university that Gail Parata, the head coach at the time saw me play and I went home to an email that night inviting me to be part of the Thistles squad," she recalled.
"Everyone was like 'who is this girl, where has she come from?' I think because I have had to fight and claw my way to the top that that is what has kept me hungry."
Background in Orienteering
As a teenager, Nicholl had a promising career in orienteering.
"I have got multiple Scottish championships to my name - I ended up like 17th in the world championships," she revealed.
However, she chose to focus on netball to avoid injury risks associated with orienteering.
Team Scotland's Prospects
Scotland, currently ranked 10th globally in netball, aims to improve upon three consecutive ninth-place finishes at the last three Commonwealth Games.
"In the last 12-18 months, particularly since Kath Tetley has become head coach, we have put in some really solid performances," Nicholl added.
"When I first started playing, I would be star struck by my opposition, but now when I am on the court I am like 'they are just a human and they are going to remember who Emily Nicholl is at the end of this, they are going to realise how difficult it is to play me for 60 minutes'.
"So both individually and as a squad we have had a huge growth over the last four years since the last games."
