Teenager Gracie Smith has been included in England’s Roses programme for 2026-27 after her breakout performances in the Netball Super League.
The 17-year old, who is yet to play for the senior England side, has become a rising star of the NSL since making her debut and winning the title as a 16-year-old in 2025.
She has played a further 12 matches for London Pulse this season.
She has been rewarded with a first inclusion on the Roses programme, which provides training and support to players, and is essentially the group of players which will form the basis of England squads throughout the year.
The list of 21 names also includes defenders Alice Harvey and Jayda Pechova, who return after a year in the Future Roses programme, plus Ella Clark for the first time since 2023 after impressing with Loughborough Lightning.
Four of the names included – Imogen Allison, Sasha Glasgow, Helen Housby and Fran Williams – play in Australia, with the rest based in the UK.
Head coach Anna Stembridge said: “I’m delighted to share the group of athletes who will make up the full-time Roses programme for the year ahead.
“I firmly believe that among this group we have the talent, commitment and the technical and tactical diversity that will enable us to perform at the highest level in the Commonwealth Games this summer, whilst also building towards the Netball World Cup just a year later in 2027.”
England Netball has also revamped its Future Roses programme in the hope of better preparing players for the senior side. It will now be known as Roses A.
Roses Programme athletes: Halimat Adio (London Pulse), Imogen Allison (Queensland Firebirds, Australia) Jaz Brown (NIC Leeds Rhinos), Eleanor Cardwell (AO Manchester Thunder), Amy Carter (AO Manchester Thunder), Ella Clark (Loughborough Lightning), Funmi Fadoju (London Pulse), Sasha Glasgow (West Coast Fever, Australia), Alice Harvey (Loughborough Lightning), Helen Housby (New South Wales Swifts, Australia), Natalie Metcalf (AO Manchester Thunder), Berri Neil (Loughborough Lightning), Tash Pavelin (Nottingham Forest), Lois Pearson (AO Manchester Thunder) Jayda Pechova (Nottingham Forest), Izzi Phillips (London Mavericks), Alicia Scholes (London Pulse), Jess Shaw (Loughborough Lightning), Gracie Smith (London Pulse), Liv Tchine (London Pulse), Fran Williams (West Coast Fever, Australia)
