Emerging Team Bath talent take to the global stage in Gibraltar for 2025 Netball World Youth Cup
Several Team Bath Netball players will be showcasing their talents on the global stage when the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup takes place in Gibraltar from 19th to 28th September.
NXT Gen League shooter Dani Carr has been named in the Wales squad and fellow University of Bath student Matilda Smyth has been selected by Scotland, while Immi Shaw and Zoe Maynard will represent Northern Ireland.
Lilia Davies and Madison Sims are reserves for Wales and the England squad features University of Bath sporting scholars Alanna Pullen, Sophie Kelly and Jayda Pechova who have all previously represented Team Bath in NXT Gen or Super League.
Natalie Roddy, Team Bath Netball Academy Head Coach, said: “We are delighted to have so many athletes representing the competing nations at the World Youth Cup. These selections are so well deserved and we look forward to seeing our athletes in action.”
The World Youth Cup is the pinnacle netball competition for emerging players aged 21 and under, and 20 nations are competing at the 2025 edition.
Carr, who studies Management at the University, made several appearances for Team Bath during the inaugural NXT Gen League season and, in addition to her World Youth Cup call-ups, has been selected as a training partner for the Welsh Feathers 2025-26 senior squad.
Compatriots Davies and Sims impressed for Team Bath in the Netball Performance League (NPL) last season, in the U17 and U19 age groups respectively.
Chemistry student Smyth, who plays GS and GA, and mid-courter Maynard are both part of the Team Bath Player Development Programme (PDP), in the U21 and Senior squads respectively, while defender Shaw accesses Team Bath’s Athlete Development Centre (ADC) in Bath.
Sports Performance student Pullen, who starred as Team Bath finished runners-up in the 2025 NXT Gen League campaign, and Business student Kelly are in an England squad looking to match or better the Roses’ bronze-medal placing when the tournament was last staged in 2017.
They, along with Carr and Smyth, have also represented the University of Bath in national student competition, helping the 1sts reach the BUCS Championship Final this year.
Trendell Sporting Scholar Pechova, who was named as Super League Young Player of the Year 2025 following an excellent campaign with Nottingham Forest, has been called up to the England squad as an injury replacement for Rihanna Luke.
Pictured top (from left): Dani Carr, Lilia Davies, Immi Shaw, Matilda Smyth, Zoe Maynard, Madison Sims and Alanna Pullen.
