Blue & Gold duo Betsy Creak and Nia Evans selected in Wales Netball squad for first home internationals since 2019

Team Bath Superleague shooter Betsy Creak and U21 NPL player Nia Evans have been selected in the Wales Netball squad for this weekend’s Test Series against Gibraltar, Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland.

The fixtures, taking place at Ebbw Vale Sports Centre from 14-16 January, are the final opportunity for Wales to play in ranking Test Matches before the announcement of the remaining nations that have qualified for this summer’s Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Also in the 17-strong home squad are Team Bath Toucans duo Rebecca Baker and Suzy Drane, the latter a co-captain along with former Team Bath NPL player Ella Powell-Davies.

This weekend’s matches are the first senior internationals to be played in Wales since 2019, when Creak made her debut and caught the eye of Team Bath Netball Superleague Head Coach Anna Stembridge.

She was named as the Blue & Gold’s Most Improved Player during the 2021 Vitality Superleague season before linking up with the Wales squad again during the Autumn for matches against Northern Ireland, Scotland, the Isle of Man and South Africa.

“Being back with Wales over the past few months has been really fun,” said Creak, who is in Team Bath’s 2022 Superleague squad. “Every time I go and train with Wales it feels like a step up, everyone is pushing and challenging each other. It’s a really exciting squad and we have a lot more to give in 2022.”

Evans was captain of the Wales U21 squad that competed in November’s Europe Netball tournament and is representing Team Bath in that age group for a second successive NPL season.