England call on Team Bath’s Alanna Pullen and scholar Sophie Kelly for 2025 Netball World Youth Cup

Team Bath Netball’s Alanna Pullen and University of Bath sporting scholar Sophie Kelly have been named in the England U21 squad for the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup, taking place in Gibraltar from 19-28 September.

Trendell Sporting Scholar Jayda Pechova is a non-travelling reserve for the tournament, which features the top 20 teams in the world and sees England take on Sri Lanka, Jamaica, Tonga and Wales in the group stages.

Pullen, a dynamic wing-attack and goal-attack, was a key figure for Team Bath as they finished runners-up in the inaugural NXT Gen League season. She recently completed a Sports Performance foundation degree at the University, where she is supported by an Alumni Fund Scholarship, and will start the BSc (Hons) one-year degree course in September.

Goal-attack Kelly also enjoyed a domestic season to remember as she helped London Pulse win the Netball Super League title for a first time. She has recommitted to Pulse for the 2026 season and will continue her sporting career alongside a Management degree at the University, supported by a Bill Whiteley Scholarship.

Both Pullen and Kelly were part of the University’s student netball 1sts which reached the 2025 BUCS National Championship Final.

The 2025 Netball World Youth Cup is the first staging of the prestigious competition since 2017 where an England squad featuring former Bath sporting scholars Imogen Allison and Sophie Drakeford-Lewis won bronze.

Visit teambath.com/scholarships to find out how the University of Bath supports high-performing student-athletes.