Next week represents the start of the Vitality Roses’ Cadbury Netball Series campaign which will see them take on world champions New Zealand in three separate matches.
England will take on the Silver Ferns on 28, 30 October and 1 November in a battle for the Taini Jamison Trophy at the Claudelands Arena in Hamilton.
The team arrived in New Zealand last week with a 16-strong squad and its staff. Among those to touchdown in Christchurch was Vitality Rose Imogen Allison.
“I’m very excited for this tour! Going over to New Zealand is such a great opportunity. We’re playing the Silver Ferns and it’s very exciting to be able to get the Vitality Roses back onto the international stage,” she said.
Allison has been a member of the Vitality Roses ever since her graduation from youth level, where she won bronze for her country at the Netball World Youth Cup in Botswana, in 2019.
Under Head Coach Jess Thirlby, she took part in a tour to Oceania in 2019 before being named co-captain of England A at the Vitality Netball Nations Cup at the start of this year.
Now, after being selected in the full-time programme for 2020/21, she could win her first senior cap for her country later this month.
“Potentially getting my first senior cap means so much to me. My whole netball career has been essentially driven towards getting an international senior cap and playing at this level. So I’m very excited. Hopefully I’ll be able to get that under my belt,” said Allison.
“My whole netball career has been essentially driven towards an international senior cap” – Imogen Allison
Since returning to England training after a year disrupted by COVID-19, Allison has been able to learn from more experienced players in the squad.
The 22-year-old, for example, has been playing alongside co-captain Serena Guthrie and Jade Clarke who have earned 274 caps between them over the years. Like Allison, they also play at centre or wing defence.
“Training with Serena [Guthrie] and Jade [Clarke] has been such a great experience and allowed me to grow as a player and develop my game massively. They have so much experience so it’s been incredible to be able to take tips from them to help me be a better player,” she said.
“There have been lots of safety protocols which have made training a little bit different due to COVID-19 but I think isolating and the testing that we’ve gone through has given us the opportunity to be able to go to New Zealand so it’s definitely been worth it!”
With Team Bath Netball in the Vitality Netball Superleague, she has already made a name for herself domestically.
The mid-courter quickly earned a starting spot in Bath and beca
Allison has been training hard with her Vitality Roses teammates. Source | Ben Lumley.
me an essential part of the league’s best defence in 2017 and 2018 respectively.
Allison has been nominated for Young Player of the Season in the past. For country, she has even more ambitions.
“In terms of goals, I am looking to develop and improve my game. I’m always looking to be a better player and be able to get some experience to play against New Zealand again in the future.
“I think another goal would also be to get my first senior cap. I think it would be silly not to be one of my goals. It’s just a very exciting experience for me.”
You can watch all three of the Vitality Roses’ fixtures against New Zealand on Sky Sports Mix with build up starting at 6am BST. First centre pass for all fixtures is at approximately 7am BST.
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