By David Williams
Nia Jones has declared her time in top level netball is over after she was omitted from both Cardiff Dragons and Wales squads.
The Dragons and Welsh Feathers captain has not been given a contract by the Dragons for the upcoming season, although the club – one of eight new franchises in the revamped Netball Super League – is yet to announce its roster of players for the new campaign.
Having been left out by the Dragons, Jones, 32, opted not to attend the Welsh Feathers trial and was absent from their recently announced national squad.
“My chapter as a high-performance netballer as I’ve known it has come to an end,” she said on Instagram.
“I didn’t really see it coming, I still feel full of beans.”
I can't believe I woke up to Nia Jones being dropped by @cardiffdragons_ for next season. An absolutely unfathomable move. Nia has been the heart & soul of Welsh #Netball for years and deserved to be treated with more respect than this. Shame! I've lost all my respect for Dragons https://t.co/AedgAgKUlH
— Nik (@lostinmyminds) August 18, 2024
Jones spoke last season of a difficult summer approaching for all players in the NSL with the reduction in teams from 10 to eight having led to increased competition for fewer places.
Player wages and the number of full-time players are set to increase when the new season starts early in 2025, but there will be fewer players overall operating at the elite level.
Squad sizes will also be reduced from 12 registered players to 10.
“Cutting to the chase, the decision from my franchise last year, Cardiff Dragons, not to offer me a contract for next season really hurt, however I do understand it’s a part of sport,” said Jones who captained the side in 2024.
“But in particular the way this was communicated to me and handled left me feeling too upset.
“It was my decision, last minute, not to attend the recent Feathers trials which as you can imagine was ridiculously hard. As separate as they are, there are still many areas that carry over as you can imagine.
“With those feelings being very much raw and me really listening to my core values, it just didn’t feel right and it certainly wouldn’t have been fair on the girls, the other trialists or the coaches either.”
https://twitter.com/amy001m/status/1824963105174310973
Netball’s authorities have opted to revamp their Super League with a ruthless commercial outlook.
Some of the traditional clubs who have earned respect, success and affection – such as Team Bath and Severn Stars, who are based in Worcester – have been jettisoned.
In their place have come brash, big-city based franchises, including one in Nottingham, who are owned by and titled, Nottingham Forest.
Only two months ago, Jones – who combines playing for the Dragons with coaching at Cardiff University- admitted: “It’s been pretty cut-throat.
“So, there have been mixed emotions for me because I’ve got some close friends and former teammates at franchises who are not going to be part of the future.
“But this was necessary. The reduction in numbers is going to bring in real competition for places. That will drive up standards and be the basis for an elite, professional sport.”
https://twitter.com/WalesNetball_/status/1824446130777690143
The Wrexham-born player – who plays goal defence or wing defence – played her first of seven seasons with Cardiff Dragons in 2013 and also had spells with Severn Stars and Leeds Rhinos in the NSL.
Discussing the Welsh Feathers squad announcement, Sara Moore, head of performance, said: “I am looking forward to seeing the athletes and the squad as a whole develop as they begin their preparations for this season’s international competitions.
“The focus for this group of athletes is the Netball World Cup in 2027, and the preparations for that starts now.”
Welsh Feathers squad for 2024-25: Victoria Booth, Abigail Caple, Millie Carter, Bethan Dyke, Celyn Emanuel, Lucy Howells, Charlotte Jennings-Evans, Alex Johnson, Nansi Kuti, Zoe Matthewman, Leah Middleton, Caris Morgan, Ellen Morgan, Shona O’Dwyer, Megan Pilkington, Georgia Rowe, Poppy Tydeman and Phillipa Yarranton.