The Scotland national netball team represents Scotland in international netball tournaments such as the Netball World Cup, Netball at the Commonwealth Games and the Netball Europe Open Championships. As of 1 September 2025, Scotland are listed 10th on the World Netball Rankings.
History Early tests Scotland made their Test debut on 7 May 1949 with a 25–3 defeat to England. The match was played at the General Electric Company ground on Preston Road, Wembley during the 1949 England Scotland Wales netball series. Scotland also played Wales for the first time on the same day, losing 14–13. On 12 May 1951, Scotland hosted their first home international, defeating Northern Ireland 21–7 in Glasgow. The 1950s saw Scotland play in 20 matches, mainly against England, Northern Ireland and Wales. However, they also played Australia and South Africa for the first time. On 21 April 1956 they lost 7–25 to Australia and on 23 March 1959 they lost 8–31 to South Africa.
Netball Super League Scotland effectively competed in the Netball Super League. Between 2008 and 2011 they played as Glasgow Wildcats. One of the main aims of forming the Glasgow Wildcats franchise was to help Scotland prepare for the 2014 Commonwealth Games. Denise Holland was subsequently appointed joint head coach of both the Wildcats and Scotland. Between 2017 and 2024 they played as the Sirens. Gail Parata served as the joint head coach of both Sirens and Scotland. At the 2019 Netball World Cup, eleven of the Scotland squad were Sirens players.
Tournament history Major tournaments Netball World Cup Scotland have competed in every Netball World Cup tournament, except in 2011 when they failed to qualify. The highest position they have finished is 6th which they achieved on three occasions, in 1971, 1975 and 1983.
Tournaments Place1963 World Netball Championships8th1967 World Netball Championships7th1971 World Netball Championships6th1975 World Netball Championships6th1979 World Netball Championships9th1983 World Netball Championships6th1987 World Netball Championships9th1991 World Netball Championships9th1995 World Netball Championships22nd1999 World Netball Championships20th2003 World Netball Championships15th2007 World Netball Championships14th2015 Netball World Cup12th2019 Netball World Cup11th2023 Netball World Cup10th
Commonwealth Games
Scotland have been regular participants in Netball at the Commonwealth Games. They hosted the tournament in 2014 and 2026. In 2026 they achieved their highest ever Commonwealth Games placing, finishing 8th.
Tournaments Place2014 Commonwealth Games9th2018 Commonwealth Games9th2022 Commonwealth Games9th2026 Commonwealth Games8th
World Games Tournaments Place1985 World Games5th/6th1989 World Games5th European tournaments Netball Europe Open Championships
Scotland played regularly in the Netball Europe Open Championships. Their best performances came in 2014 and when they finished second.
Tournaments Place1998 FENA Open1999 FENA Open2000 FENA Open2001 FENA Open2002 FENA Open2003 FENA Open2004 FENA Open2005 FENA Open2006 FENA Open2007 FENA Open3rd2008 FENA Open2nd2009 Netball Europe Open Championships2nd2010 Netball Europe Open Championships3rd2011 Netball Europe Open Championships4th2012 Netball Europe Open Championships4th2013 Netball Europe Open Championships4th2014 Netball Europe Open Championships2015 Netball Europe Open Championships6th2016 Netball Europe Open Championships3rd2017 Netball Europe Open Championships3rd
Netball World Cup Qualifiers Tournaments Place2007 World Netball Championships Qualifier – Europe2nd2011 World Netball Championships Qualifier – Europe3rd2014 Netball Europe Open Championships2nd2019 Netball World Cup Regional Qualifier – Europe1st2023 Netball World Cup Regional Qualifier – Europe2nd
Invitational tournaments Celtic Cup The Celtic Cup series is hosted and organised by Netball Northern Ireland, Netball Scotland and Wales Netball. The series features Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales playing a series of test matches against each other and visiting national teams.
Tournaments Place2024 Celtic Cup2nd 2025 Celtic Cup2nd
Netball South Africa Diamond Challenge Tournaments Place2022 SPAR Diamond Challenge2nd
Netball Singapore Nations Cup Scotland have finished as runners up in two Netball Singapore Nations Cup tournaments.
Tournaments Place2006 Netball Singapore Nations Cup2009 Netball Singapore Nations Cup2010 Netball Singapore Nations Cup
Notable players Current Squad The current squad was selected for the 2025 Scotland New Zealand netball series.
Captains Captains YearsRita Rice (née Renfrew)1949Lily Keith (Hunter)Theresa Rice (McCartney)Margaret DevineLena Fraser (Calder)Sheila Donald (Ferguson)Celia Shields (Breslin)1957Ann Boyle (Gillespie)Mae Lavery (Rooney)1963Moira Ord MBE1967Priscilla KerrMarie Fairie1971, 1975, 1979Liz Wilson (McPheely)Janie Elliot (Lavery)Susan Mosher (McCafferty)1987Alexandra (Sandra) Frame (Trainer)1991Mary Tough1999Lindsay Cummings2003 Lesley Macdonald2007Hayley Mulheron2015Claire Maxwell201x–2023Emily NichollIona Christian
Head coaches Coach YearsCatherine Sweeney1949Elizabeth Kelly1962 Muriel Getty1963 Katie Pie1967 Lena Fraser1971, 1975 Maeve Wilson1976 Lena Fraser1977Moira Ord1979Elizabeth Church1980 Marie Fairie1980–1982 Agnes O'Brien1983, 1987 Anne Clark1991 Anne Marie Daly1995 Mary Ann Cosgrove1999Anne Clark 2003, 2007 Mary Tough2008Denise Holland2008–2012 Jill Fullerton2013Gail Parata2013–2019 Tamsin Greenway2020–2023Kath Tetley2024–
Honours Netball World Cup Qualifiers Winners: 2019 Runner up: 2007, 2015, 2023 Netball Europe Open Championships Runner up: 2014 Netball Singapore Nations Cup Runner up: 2009, 2010 Netball South Africa Diamond Challenge Runner up: 2022
References