England netball head coach Anna Stembridge acknowledged the challenges faced by the Roses following their fourth-place finish at the recent Commonwealth Games in Glasgow. England was defeated 68-50 by Australia in the bronze medal match, marking a second straight fourth-place finish at the Games. Prior to that, the team fell 61-54 to eventual champions New Zealand in the semi-final, underscoring a noticeable gap between England and the world’s top netball teams.

Stembridge pointed out that the squad included 10 debutantes, five of whom had previous World Cup experience. She emphasized that the exposure to high-pressure international competition would be valuable for the team moving forward, particularly with the next Netball World Cup scheduled to take place in Sydney in 13 months.

“Only two of those players have ever played at the Commonwealth Games and felt that level of pressure," Stembridge said. “I think we must try and find a way where we can simulate that week in, week out.” She expressed optimism that the experience gained in Glasgow will strengthen the team’s performance in upcoming competitions, including the autumn series and the World Cup.

Despite the disappointment of missing out on a medal, Stembridge remains focused on long-term development, acknowledging that it may take several years before the full benefits of this experience are reflected in England’s results on the court. The coach described the current period as an important stepping stone as the Roses prepare to contend with elite international opponents in the near future.