Team Bath add four more names to Superleague netball squad
Wednesday 1 November 2017 19:23, UK
Asha Francis, Paige Reed, Abi Robson and Jazz Scott have been confirmed as the latest players on the Team Bath roster for the 2018 Vitality Superleague season.
After a busy few weeks, Friday's announcement means the Bath line-up for next season now stands at 15 with the four most recent additions graduates of the performance pathway.
Robson has represented England at U17 and U21 levels. The 18-year-old mid-courter now steps up to Superleague level and is capable of playing at wing-defence or centre.
England U21 international Reed, who is taking a gap year from her studies, broke onto the Superleague scene last season with impact in attack, while University of Bath Sports Performance graduate Scott is named in the Superleague squad for a third successive season.
Francis - captain of the title-winning team in 2013 - will combine playing with coaching the academy and students' teams.
The signings were confirmed on a day that Bath revealed the Futures Pathway will be headed up by former Team Bath Superleague player Lois Rideout, and will include a network of Academies and Hubs for players right across the south-west.
"It's totally appropriate to name these four players on a day when we also reveal the Academy Head Coach," said Team Bath Netball head coach Jess Thirlby.
"We have a strong history of developing players into the Blue and Gold squad and from there onto the international scene. These four players carry on that golden thread.
"We are also delighted to welcome Lois back and into a new role. We are confident that she will help us continue to make a step change in the development of players across the region for the benefit of the whole of the sport of netball.
"As a graduate of the University and a former player, Lois can help shape our playing environment and understands the demands on players who become role models for other young women at a time when they are juggling conflicting demands of studying and playing sport a high level."
Follow the 2018 Vitality Superleague season with us on Sky Sports and through our website skysports.com/Netball also our app for mobile devices and iPad, or follow our Twitter account @SkyNetball
