Wales’ netball captain receives 75th cap.
Wales Senior Netball team captain, Suzy Drane, has received her 75th senior Welsh cap this week. The twenty-nine year old represented her country for the 75th time at the Netball Europe Open Championships last weekend in Newcastle.
“It’s a huge mile-stone. I’m pleased and ecstatic that I’ve made it this far, but I still get the exact same feeling as when I received my first cap, my 30th cap and my 74th,” said Suzy, who’s originally from north Wales but now lives in St Mellons, Cardiff.
Suzy and her team-mates recently earned a silver medal at the Netball Europe Open Championships, defeating Scotland and Ireland, and losing to England in the final match for the gold medal.
“We have more to work on and we feel we have more to give,” reflects Suzy, “we have more in the tank. We are hungry to improve,” says Suzy, “it has put us in good stead for the South Africa test series.”
As well as being Captain for the Welsh team, Suzy lectures in Sport Development and Performance Sport at Cardiff Metropolitan University. She also plays for the Celtic Dragons in the Vitality Superleage. The inspirational athlete has played for Wales at two Commonwealth Games, two World Cup competitions, and at several European Championships. However, Suzy says she doesn’t count the caps, and focuses on each individual game:
“Playing for your country can’t ever be replicated, but it’s not about counting caps. I’m still learning, and still contributing to the team. So for as long as I can do that, I still want to play – I’ll be here.”
The Wales Senior Netball team are all hoping for a place on the tour to South Africa in June 13 - 20. South Africa Netball Team are currently 5th in the International Netball Federation World rankings. Suzy says she and the rest of the girls will be working hard in order to be selected:
“People always assume that you can take selection lightly, but it doesn’t matter who you are or how many caps you have – you just don’t know until you see your name written down on paper.”
Suzy has played against South Africa before, but has never visited the country, “I’ve played on four continents, and hoping for a fifth.”
Look out for the Wales Senior and Under 21 squad announcement on the Welsh Netball website soon.
