Suzy Drane insists a new era for Welsh netball is about to begin even though the national team will be absent when the World Cup starts next week in Liverpool.
Instead, Wales are facing their own intense series of matches, including clashes against tournament-bound Malawi and then Trinidad and Tobago – both of which are being broadcast live on S4C this weekend.
Wales face the Malawians – currently ranked No.6 in the world – on Saturday before the Caribbean Islanders provide the opposition on Sunday.
Both games are at Cardiff’s Viola Arena and the ground-breaking broadcasts will be the first time live netball has been screened by S4C.
That won’t be the only fresh outlook in evidence as Wales have included six uncapped players in their squad as they bid to start building towards the Netball Europe tournament in September and the next Commonwealth Games in 2022.
Drane – who captained Wales at last year’s Commonwealth Games in Australia – admits: “We are obviously really disappointed that we are not going to the World Cup up in Liverpool.
“The World Cup is happening just up the road and we’ve had to live with that disappointment for 18 months. But we needed changes after the Commonwealth Games and we have gone through those.
“This is the start of our next four to eight year cycle, which includes qualification for the next World Cup and the next Commonwealth Games. Those campaigns start here and now.
“You have to have a base line and so we are competing against the top teams who are going to feature in the World Cup.”
Wales have slipped to 11th in the current world rankings, but will be looking to prove they are heading back to the top 10 by beating Trinidad and Tobabgo, in particular, who are ranked just one place above them.
In all, Wales are playing six matches in just seven days, with the fixtures beginning with a back-to-back double header against South Africa on Thursday and Friday.
Then come the televised Tests against Malawi and Trinidad and Tobago over the weekend, before another double-header – against Grenada on the following Tuesday and Wednesday – completes the half dozen set.
It’s a daunting schedule, specifically designed to replicate the workload at a World Cup as Wales set their sights on qualification for the 2023 tournament which will be held in Cape Town.
Drane adds: “All credit to our national governing body. They have confirmed some fantastic fixtures. It’s just what we needed as an international team because we’ve been training really hard since the October trials in readiness for Netball Europe, which is in September.
“It’s the start of something new and fresh, with eight uncapped players. It means some fresh thinking and lots of energy.
“Together with the experience, we can put a mix on the court that will allow us to measure ourselves against the top teams.”
The new broom extends to the coaching set-up, where Wales coach Julie Hoornweg has returned from Australia with new assistants flanking her – Sara Hale and Jenna Culley.
The eight new faces are Cathy Bastian, Catrin Bowen, Betsy Creak, Brooke Collett, Lydia Hitchings, Lucy Howells, Chantelle Walker-Jones and Clare Jones, who has since had to pull out through injury.
“Whilst some of these girls have not been playing in SuperLeague, a lot of them have been appearing in the English Premier League, which is just one level below SuperLeague,” says Drane.
“There are others who have also been training really hard and the important thing is that a new team builds its culture. We have to have a long term plan and short term goals to realise than plan.”
The new era, though, is likely to see at least one emotional farewell.
Kyra Jones, a mid-court teammate of Drane’s in the Wales team for the past decade, has announced her retirement from SuperLeague and the Celtic Dragons at the age of 33.
After a glittering career including passing a half century of caps last year, these internationals could well be her last appearances in a Wales vest, although she, too, prefers to look to the future.
The Australian-born player says: “It still hurts that we’re not going to the World Cup, but for the team it could prove a blessing in disguise.
“It means a new focus on the future with new players and we can start laying the benchmarks for that future with these international matches against high quality opposition.”
Both games get underway at 5.00pm, with live coverage starting at 4.45pm on S4C. The matches will also be available to watch live online at s4c.cymru/clic, the S4C Chwaraeon Facebook page (with Welsh commentary) and the S4C Youtube page (with English commentary).
Pêl Rwyd Rhyngwladol: Cymru v Malawi & Cymru v Trinidad & Tobago
Saturday 6 July, 4.45pm & Sunday 7 July, 4.45pm
English commentary
Available to watch live on S4C, S4C Clic, Facebook Live and Youtube
A Rondo Media production for S4C