Wasps Netball were an English netball team based at the Coventry Building Society Arena in Coventry, Warwickshire. Wasps Netball was formed in 2016 as a partnership with the Premiership Rugby team, Wasps RFC. Since 2017 their senior team has played in the Netball Superleague. They were Superleague champions in 2017 and 2018. The holding company for the team were placed in insolvency on 17 October 2022 and a new company called "Wasps Netball Limited" was incorporated with Companies House on 26 October 2022.[1]

Wasps Netball
Founded2016
Disbanded2022
Based inCoventry,
RegionsWest Midlands
Home venueCoventry Building Society Arena
University of Warwick
Head coachCathrine Tuivaiti
CaptainJosie Huckle
LeagueNetball Superleague
Website[1]

Uniform

History

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New franchise

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In June 2016 it was announced that Wasps, together with Severn Stars and Scottish Sirens, would be one of three new franchises that would join the Netball Superleague for the 2017 season.[2] Wasps subsequently appointed Tamsin Greenway as their first director of netball. Wasps Netball was formed as a partnership with the Premiership Rugby team, Wasps RFC.[3][4][5][6] In December 2016 Wasps defeated Team Bath 22–15 to win the Mike Greenwood Trophy.[7][8] In January 2017 Wasps also played in Team Bath's pre-season Tri-Tournament.[9] On 21 February 2017 Wasps made their Superleague debut at the Emirates Arena with a 57–43 win against fellow newcomers Sirens.[5][10] On 5 March 2017 Wasps made their home Superleague debut at the Ricoh Arena with a 51–47 win against Hertfordshire Mavericks.[11]

Superleague champions

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Wasps were Superleague champions in 2017 and 2018.[12][13] In 2017, with a team that included Tamsin Greenway, Rachel Dunn, Bongiwe Msomi and Natalie Haythornthwaite, Wasps defeated Loughborough Lightning 55–51 in the grand final.[14][15][16][17] In 2018 Wasps retained the Superleague title after again defeating Loughborough Lightning 55–51 in the grand final. The winning squad included Greenway, Dunn, Haythornthwaite, Samantha May and Jade Clarke.[18][19][20]

Demise

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Wasps Netball were placed into administration on 17 October 2022 with all their playing and coaching staff made redundant.[21]

On 10 November 2022, England Netball announced that Wasps Netball would no longer be eligible to compete in the Netball Super League moving forwards.[22]

Senior finals

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Netball Superleague Grand Finals

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Between 2017 and 2019 Wasps have played in three successive Netball Superleague grand finals.[12]

Season Winners Score Runners Up Venue
2017[15][16] Wasps 55–51 Loughborough Lightning Barclaycard Arena
2018[18][19][20] Wasps 55–51 Loughborough Lightning Copper Box Arena
2019[23][24] Manchester Thunder 57–52 Wasps Copper Box Arena

Fast5 Netball All-Stars Championship

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Wasps have played in two British Fast5 Netball All-Stars Championship finals.[12]

Season Winners Score Runners Up Venue
2018 [25] Wasps 42–32 benecosMavericks Copper Box Arena
2019 [26][27] Loughborough Lightning 61–35 Wasps Copper Box Arena

Home venue

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Wasps played their home games at both the Coventry Building Society Arena and in the Sport and Wellness Hub at the University of Warwick. The team also trained at the University of Warwick.[3][4][12][13]

Notable players

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2023 squad

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2023 Wasps Netball roster
Players Coaching staff
Nat. Name Position(s) DoB Height
  Cathrine Tuivaiti GS 25 October 1986 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
  Chloe Essam GA, GS 9 December 1999 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
  Rachel Dunn GS, GA 14 November 1982 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
  Georgia Lees C, WA 15 February 1994 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)
  Josie Huckle GD, GK 24 September 1991 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
  Ella Powell-Davies GD, WD 18 March 1999 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
  Leah Goss C, WD 27 November 1998 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
  Lauren Nicholls WD,GD, C 26 March 1991
  Rachael Fee GD, GK 19 September 2001 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
  Peace Akinyemi GK, GD 24 September 2003 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
  Hannah Diamond WA, GA 17 October 2003 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
  Beth Gabriel GA, GS
Head coach



Notes
  • (c) – Captain
  • (cc) – Co-captain
  • (vc) – Vice-captain
  •   – Injury / maternity leave
  • (TRP) – Temporary Replacement Player
Player profiles: Team website Last updated: 8 October 2022

Internationals

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  England
  South Africa

Head coaches

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Coach Years
  Tamsin Greenway[4][28] 2016–2018
  Mel Mansfield[29][30] 2018–2022
  Cathrine Tuivaiti[31][32][33][34] 2022–2023

Honours

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References

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  1. ^ "Wasps Netball Limited". Companies House. 26 October 2022. Archived from the original on 11 January 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
  2. ^ "Netball Superleague: Three new teams added, but Yorkshire Jets left out". www.bbc.co.uk. 27 June 2016. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Wasps Netball Unveil New Head Coach & Superleague Plans". stadiumexperience.com. 11 July 2016. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  4. ^ a b c "England youth coach Tamsin Greenway to lead new Wasps netball team". coventryobserver.co.uk. 28 October 2016. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  5. ^ a b "Netball Superleague: How Wasps and Severn Stars came into existence". www.bbc.co.uk. 17 February 2017. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  6. ^ "Tamsin Greenway: Wasps Netball will do 'crazy stuff' like Premiership counterparts". www.bbc.co.uk. 20 February 2017. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  7. ^ "MGT 2015 - Write Up". www.manchesterthunder.com. 30 November 2015. Archived from the original on 8 December 2015. Retrieved 4 December 2015.
  8. ^ "Team Bath reach final of Mike Greenwood Trophy in promising start to netball pre-season campaign". www.teambath.com. 14 December 2016. Archived from the original on 12 February 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  9. ^ "Plenty of home cheer as Team Bath Netball win entertaining tri-tournament". www.teambath.com. 7 January 2017. Archived from the original on 12 February 2020. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  10. ^ "Wasps Netball win historic Superleague victory over Sirens". www.coventrytelegraph.net. 22 February 2017. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  11. ^ "Wasps hold off Mavericks for win". www.netballsl.com. 5 March 2017. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  12. ^ a b c d "About Us". www.waspsnetball.co.uk. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  13. ^ a b "Wasps Netball". www.netballsl.com. Archived from the original on 16 May 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  14. ^ "FLASHBACK: Wasps Netball's last visit to Arena Birmingham..." www.waspsnetball.co.uk. 4 January 2019. Archived from the original on 9 June 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  15. ^ a b "Netball Superleague: Wasps beat Loughborough Lightning in Grand Final". www.bbc.co.uk. 11 June 2017. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  16. ^ a b "Wasps Netball beat Loughborough Lightning in Netball Superleague Grand Final". www.skysports.com. 15 June 2017. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  17. ^ "Wasps Netball topple favourites Loughborough Lightning in Superleague Grand Final". www.coventrytelegraph.net. 12 June 2017. Archived from the original on 10 June 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  18. ^ a b "Wasps beat Loughborough Lightning to claim back-to-back Netball Superleague titles". www.skysports.com. 7 July 2018. Archived from the original on 27 February 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  19. ^ a b "Wasps Netball are Superleague champions 2018". www.waspsnetball.co.uk. 7 July 2018. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  20. ^ a b "Superleague Grand Final: Wasps 55-51 Loughborough". www.bbc.co.uk. 8 July 2018. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  21. ^ "Wasps Netball situation 'unprecedented' after holding company goes into administration". BBC Sport. 17 October 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
  22. ^ "Confirmation that Wasps Netball will no longer be eligible to compete in the Netball Super League". 10 November 2022.
  23. ^ "Manchester Thunder crowned Superleague Champions after epic showdown with Wasps". www.manchesterthunder.co.uk. 18 May 2019. Archived from the original on 18 July 2019. Retrieved 7 March 2020.
  24. ^ "Netball Superleague Grand Final: Manchester Thunder win 57-52 against Wasps". www.bbc.co.uk. 19 May 2019. Archived from the original on 24 September 2019. Retrieved 20 December 2019.
  25. ^ "Wasps Netball defeat benecosMavericks to win Fast5 Netball All-Stars Championship". www.skysports.com. 15 October 2018. Archived from the original on 6 February 2020. Retrieved 5 February 2020.
  26. ^ "Loughborough Lightning Netball are crowned 2019 Fast 5 All-Star Champions". www.lboro.ac.uk. 12 October 2019. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  27. ^ "Jo Harten shoots Loughborough Lightning to British Fast5 Netball All-Stars Championship title". www.bbc.co.uk. 12 October 2019. Archived from the original on 1 March 2020. Retrieved 7 February 2020.
  28. ^ "Tamsin Greenway to step down as Wasps director of netball". www.skysports.com. 8 July 2018. Archived from the original on 3 October 2018. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  29. ^ "Mel Mansfield appointed as Wasps Head Coach". www.netballsl.com. 12 July 2018. Archived from the original on 2 March 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  30. ^ "Mel Mansfield appointed as new Wasps Netball head coach". www.waspsnetball.co.uk. 12 July 2018. Archived from the original on 2 March 2020. Retrieved 2 March 2020.
  31. ^ "Cat Tuivaiti announced as Wasps Head Coach". www.netballsl.com. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  32. ^ "Vitality Netball Superleague: Cat Tuivaiti joins Wasps Netball as head coach". www.skysports.com. 9 June 2022. Retrieved 5 November 2023.
  33. ^ "The First Interview: Cat Tuivaiti on hopes and fears for Wasps coaching role". www.netballsl.com. 23 September 2022. Retrieved 4 November 2023.
  34. ^ "How Silver Fern legend Cat Tuivaiti bounced back from rock bottom". Woman's Day. www.nowtolove.co.nz. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 31 October 2023.
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