NPL Tournament preview Rivalries are set to be reignited when the 2018 NPL Tournament takes place from the 26th to 29th July at the University of Nottingham! The reigning champions in all three categories – Manchester Thunder (U17 and U19) and Loughborough Lightning (U21) – will be back and determined to defend their titles over the four days of competition.
U17 Manchester Thunder battled their way through the U17 tournament and fought off fierce competition to take the title in 2017. Yorkshire Netball will be out for revenge and to go one better after losing out 32-23 in last year’s final. Interestingly, the score in the third/fourth play-off was also 32-23 with London Pulse triumphing against Mavericks to win the bronze medal. Both sides will return with the aim of making it all the way to the title decider. A total of 11 teams will battle it out in the U17 category.
U19 Similarly in the U19s category in 2017, it was Manchester Thunder and Yorkshire Netball who reached the final. Yorkshire Netball once again finished as runners-up after losing 51-32. Thunder will be keen to defend their crown and take bragging rights back to the North West. Everyone will be out to make their mark and impress with plenty of exciting up-and-coming young players on show. 10 teams will vie to come out on top in the U19 age group.
U21 The U21 final in 2017 was an absolute nail-biter with extra time required to separate Loughborough Lightning and benecosMavericks. It was Lightning who rose to the occasion and claimed gold by just two goals with the final score at 50-48. Strong squads have already been named for the tournament, including England Netball Futures duo Sophie Drakeford-Lewis and Paige Reed in the Team Bath set-up. Expect even more tension, drama and exhilarating netball as eight teams contest the U21 title in 2018.
Competing Teams
| U17s | U19s | U21s |
| Mavericks | Mavericks | Mavericks |
| London Pulse | Loughborough Lightning | Loughborough Lightning |
| Loughborough Lightning | Manchester Thunder | Manchester Thunder |
| Manchester Thunder | Severn Stars | Severn Stars |
| Severn Stars | Surrey Storm | Surrey Storm |
| Surrey Storm | Team Bath | Team Bath |
| Team Bath | Team Northumbria | Team Northumbria |
| Team Northumbria | London Pulse | Wasps Netball |
| Wales | Wasps Netball | |
| Wasps Netball | Yorkshire Netball | |
| Yorkshire Netball |
For further information, download the Event Schedule and Event Information Pack. If you can’t make it to the University of Nottingham, you can follow updates from the NPL Tournament on Twitter at @EnglandNetball.
Squad Information (Updated as of 25/07) London Pulse Loughborough Lightning Manchester Thunder benecosMavericks Severn Stars Surrey Storm Team Bath Team Northumbria Wales Wasps Netball Yorkshire
NPL Tournament preview
Rivalries are set to be reignited when the 2018 NPL Tournament takes place from the 26th to 29th July at the University of Nottingham!
The reigning champions in all three categories – Manchester Thunder (U17 and U19) and Loughborough Lightning (U21) – will be back and determined to defend their titles over the four days of competition.
U17
Manchester Thunder battled their way through the U17 tournament and fought off fierce competition to take the title in 2017.
Yorkshire Netball will be out for revenge and to go one better after losing out 32-23 in last year’s final.
Interestingly, the score in the third/fourth play-off was also 32-23 with London Pulse triumphing against Mavericks to win the bronze medal.
Both sides will return with the aim of making it all the way to the title decider.
A total of 11 teams will battle it out in the U17 category.
U19
Similarly in the U19s category in 2017, it was Manchester Thunder and Yorkshire Netball who reached the final.
Yorkshire Netball once again finished as runners-up after losing 51-32.
Thunder will be keen to defend their crown and take bragging rights back to the North West.
Everyone will be out to make their mark and impress with plenty of exciting up-and-coming young players on show.
10 teams will vie to come out on top in the U19 age group.
U21
The U21 final in 2017 was an absolute nail-biter with extra time required to separate Loughborough Lightning and benecosMavericks.
It was Lightning who rose to the occasion and claimed gold by just two goals with the final score at 50-48.
Strong squads have already been named for the tournament, including England Netball Futures duo Sophie Drakeford-Lewis and Paige Reed in the Team Bath set-up.
Expect even more tension, drama and exhilarating netball as eight teams contest the U21 title in 2018.
Competing Teams
| U17s | U19s | U21s |
| Mavericks | Mavericks
|
Mavericks |
| London Pulse
|
Loughborough Lightning
|
Loughborough Lightning
|
| Loughborough Lightning
|
Manchester Thunder
|
Manchester Thunder
|
| Manchester Thunder
|
Severn Stars
|
Severn Stars
|
| Severn Stars
|
Surrey Storm
|
Surrey Storm
|
| Surrey Storm
|
Team Bath
|
Team Bath
|
| Team Bath
|
Team Northumbria
|
Team Northumbria
|
| Team Northumbria
|
London Pulse
|
Wasps Netball |
| Wales
|
Wasps Netball
|
|
| Wasps Netball
|
Yorkshire Netball | |
| Yorkshire Netball
|
For further information, download the Event Schedule and Event Information Pack.
If you can’t make it to the University of Nottingham, you can follow updates from the NPL Tournament on Twitter at @EnglandNetball.
Squad Information
(Updated as of 25/07)
Team Northumbria
Wales
Yorkshire
