Captains from all 16 teams met face-to-face for the first time in Liverpool on Tuesday 9th July to officially launch the tournament and welcome the trophy to the host city.
Ahead of this Friday’s opening match, the captains united in front of the iconic Wheel of Liverpool, which has been decorated with the flags of the competing nations by Vitality, reflecting their #WeAreRising campaign.
#WeAreRising aims to inspire more people to participate in netball and will champion and celebrate the Vitality Netball World Cup 2019. As part of the campaign, Vitality has pledged that for every 100 goals scored during the Vitality Netball World Cup, they will provide funding for one person to obtain a UKCC Level 1 Assistant Qualification Coaching Certificate through England Netball.
Reigning champions Australia Diamonds will hope to retain their world title while the Vitality Roses will look to build on their 2018 Commonwealth Games gold medal success, as they face the battle on home soil.
Chrissy Fice, Brand Director at Vitality UK, spoke about the power of the Netball World Cup as a platform to help grow grassroots netball and get people more active.
She said: “This year we’ve seen a fantastic surge in support and interest for women’s sports and are delighted to be a part of this through our support of the Vitality Netball World Cup.
“At Vitality, we use the power of sport to encourage people to be more active, collaborating with elite athletes, clubs and teams to drive participation at every level.
“Our title sponsorship of the Vitality Netball World Cup is a core part of this work.
“We’re looking forward to a summer spent inspiring more people to get involved in and playing netball, as well as watching teams from around the world compete in what will be a thrilling tournament.”
Lindsay Impett, Event Director, at Netball World Cup Ltd, said: “With just days to go before the Vitality Netball World Cup 2019 gets underway, there’s so much excitement surrounding the tournament as netball’s elite international players are set to become the focus of world sport this month.
“Along with Vitality as our title sponsor and our other tournament partners we’re welcoming the world to Liverpool this week for what promises to be an amazing spectacle as the top 16 international teams compete for the sport’s ultimate accolade.”
Hon. Molly Rhone, INF President, added: “The Captains Call is a special moment for the INF as it officially launches the Vitality Netball World Cup 2019, the highlight of the international netball calendar.
“This year marks the 15th Netball World Cup and the event is set to enhance the sport around the world, empower more women and girls than ever before, and place netball in front of millions.
“Our captains who represent the top 16 netballing nations are wonderful role models and elite athletes that exemplify everything that netball stands for.
“It is a delight to see them come together in Liverpool to kick off what is set to be a thrilling tournament.”
All 16 captains were in attendance to mark the occasion:
- Australia’s Caitlin Bassett
- Barbados’s Damisha Croney
- England’s Serena Guthrie
- Fiji’s Unaisi Rauluni
- Jamaica’s Jhaniele Fowler
- Malawi’s Joanna Kachilika
- New Zealand’s Laura Langman
- Northern Ireland’s Caroline O’Hanlon
- Samoa’s Gene Solia-Gibb and Brooke Williams
- Scotland’s Claire Maxwell
- Singapore’s Charmaine Soh
- South Africa’s Bongiwe Msomi
- Sri Lanka’s Chathurangi Jayasooriya
- Trinidad and Tobago’s Rhonda John-Davis
- Uganda’s Peace Proscovia
- Zimbabwe’s Pepe Siyachitema
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