Posted 24th Sep 2018

Australian shooter Beryl Friday joins exciting Blue & Gold squad for 2018 British Fast5 All-Stars Championship

It may be Monday but Team Bath Netball have a “Friday” in the squad today announced for the 2018 British Fast5 Netball All-Stars Championship, taking place from 1-6pm on October 13 at London’s Copper Box Arena.

Twice an ANZ title winner with Queensland Firebirds, Australian shooter Beryl Friday has joined an exciting Blue and Gold squad featuring a mix of new and familiar names for the event in which they were runners-up a year ago.

Imogen Allison and Chartie Curtis, both studying at the University of Bath and who have played for England age-group sides this year, will team up with Mia Ritchie and Rachel Shaw in the mid-court.

Laura Rudland and Sophie Drakeford-Lewis will join Friday and Chelsea Lewis in attack, while Wales international Leila Thomas features in defence alongside All-Star pick Stacey Francis. Commonwealth Games champion Eboni Beckford Chambers will be absent as she is getting married around the time of the event.

Team Bath Netball Head Coach Jess Thirlby said: “We had fantastic fun at this event last year as well as reaching the final. It’s a great opportunity to play in a significant arena in front of what we hope will be a big crowd and, unusually for netball, for prize money.

“We are looking forward to this early opportunity to take to the court and show what we can do as part of the pre-season which will culminate on December 15th with our own Tri-Tournament in the Team Bath Arena”.

Team Bath earlier announced the return of world-class defender Francis, who has just completed her second season with Australian Suncorp Super Netball finalists West Coast Fever, for the Fast5 event.

Francis said: “Playing for Team Bath is like coming home for me. To have the opportunity to rejoin the Team Bath Netball environment and put on the Blue and Gold dress again, even if only for a day, was one I couldn’t have missed! I’m looking forward to playing under some of the best coaches I’ve ever worked with again and alongside some of my greatest friends.”

Featuring 12-minute matches, an all-star 5-point line and a Golden Buzzer Power Play, the British Fast5 Netball All-Stars Championship is an all-action afternoon of non-stop, pulsating netball as the top eight teams from the 2018 Netball Superleague battle it out to be crowned 2018 All-Star Champions.

Tickets for the 2018 British Fast5 Netball All-Stars Championship will be available via www.fast5allstars.co.uk with tickets priced at £20, £30 and £40 with courtside hospitality tickets available at £99. Under 18s receive 50% off tickets, excluding courtside hospitality. Family and group discounts will be available.

Team Bath Netball are sponsored by Sitec and supported by partners Mogers DrewettSoldi and Netball South WestCenturion Chartered Financial Planners are supporting the team’s performance analysis and people development capabilities, Viper 10 are their Sportswear Supplier and Skins provide the team with compression wear.

Team Bath Netball squad for 2018 British Fast5 Netball All-Stars Championship: Imogen Allison, Chartie Curtis, Sophie Drakeford-Lewis, Stacey Francis, Beryl Friday, Chelsea Lewis, Mia Ritchie, Laura Rudland, Rachel Shaw, Leila Thomas.

Other news articles

A photo of Team Bath Netball players hugging, smiling and celebrating after their NXT Gen League extra-time victory over Loughborough Lightning in May 2025.
Brilliant Blue & Gold hold their nerve in extra-time to defeat table-topping Loughborough Lightning in NXT Gen League epic

A tremendous all-round performance saw Team Bath Netball inflict only a second defeat of the NXT Gen League season on table-topping Loughborough Lightning after an epic contest that gripped another capacity crowd at the Team Bath Arena. The Blue...

Read More
A graphic promoting The Big #BlueAndGold Bash which is being hosted by Team Bath Netball on Sunday 15th June 2025. It features the text 'Our players, our pathway, our region, our fans' and a call to action to book tickets.
Join us for The Big #BlueAndGold Bash – celebrating our players, our pathway, our region and our fans

Team Bath Netball fans are being invited to a special end-of-season party which marks not just the conclusion of the inaugural NXT Gen League campaign but a year of resilience, resurgence and remarkable performances across the South West pathway....

Read More
A picture of Team Bath Netball wing-attack Sienna Rutherford with the ball in hand, turning away from a Nottingham Forest defender during the first-ever NXT Gen League fixture in February 2025.
Blue & Gold suffer extra-time reverse at Nottingham Forest after yet another closely-fought NXT Gen League contest

Team Bath Netball went to extra-time for the second time this NXT Gen League season but were unable to secure the win on this occasion as they narrowly lost 58-56 at Nottingham Forest on Sunday. It was a frustrating...

Read More
Team Bath Netball Sponsors
Partners and Suppliers