FOUR Wasps Netball stars have received the call-up from their international sides ahead of the forthcoming Vitality Netball International Series.
Jade Clarke, Rachel Dunn and Fran Williams will all appear for Tracy Neville’s England Roses in her 12-player squad for the tournament, whilst Bongi Msomi of South Africa will captain the SPAR Proteas.
The series, which begins on Sunday, will see England, world champions Australia, New Zealand and South Africa battle it out for the title in the final international series ahead of the Netball World Cup in July.
Clarke will be set to win her 160th appearance for her country during the tournament, which concludes on Sunday, January 20 at the Copper Box Arena when England face a rematch of the dramatic Commonwealth Games final against Australia, in which Clarke helped win gold.
Goal shooter Dunn was named player of the match in the season-opener against Loughborough Lightning and has international pedigree with her country having previously won bronze with the Roses at the Commonwealth Games.
Williams is seen as a hot prospect for the Roses, having made her international bow in October in the Uganda Series, and will be hoping to make a real impact against some of the world’s best for her country.
The Wasps England contingent will face an opener against New Zealand on Sunday 13 at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool, before a return to the Copper Box Arena in London against Msomi’s South Africa on January 19.
Speaking of the call-ups for her Wasps players, head coach Mel Mansfield admitted her pride for the quartet.
“We’re delighted the fantastic performances of Rachel, Jade, Fran and Bongi have been recognised on the international stage and deservedly so,” she said.
“We have a talented squad here at Wasps Netball, full of top quality players, and to have four of our stars performing on a stage such as the Quad Series is testament to that.”
Wasps will return fresh from the international series to face Saracens Mavericks in the Vitality Netball Superleague on Monday, February 11 (7pm).
