Netball Jamaica (NJ) President Karen Baugh has expressed disappointment at the cancellation of the local leg of the Vitality Netball Roses Horizon Series, but emphasised it was the right decision after deadly Hurricane Melissa lashed sections of the island on October 28.

The bilateral series was created to establish a regular, high-level international netball contest between England and Jamaica. It provides consistent, high-intensity competition to help both teams prepare for major tournaments, while showcasing elite netball to a wider audience and also promoting the sport’s growth.

The series rivalry typically features two games in Jamaica and two in England each year. Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls won last year’s series 2–1 after one match was tied.

This year, the Jamaica leg of the competition was slated for December 6 and 7 at the National Indoor Sports Centre.

The series is to proceed with only the England leg, with matches slated for December 13 and 14 at London’s Copper Box Arena.

“For sure, we are disappointed [about the cancellation]. We were working very hard on putting on a great show and we just have to come back stronger next year for the local leg,” Baugh told the Jamaica Observer.

“The players are a little disappointed at not being able to play at home because that is a highlight for them for sure. But they know that they are carrying the hopes and the support of all of Jamaica and so they are in a good space.”

In a press release, England Netball and NJ confirmed the decision was taken after “close consultation… prioritising the welfare and recovery needs of the affected communities”.

Baugh said: “We are happy that we can still have the series in some way and we were thankful that England has worked with us on this. The girls are naturally disappointed because they want to play in front of their home crowd but we think that we made the right decision.”

Baugh then outlined the hurricane’s impact.

“It [the passage of the hurricane] does affect a lot of our planning and sponsors engagements and so a lot of our stakeholders are focused on hurricane recovery and we think that’s the right thing to do.

“We think that is the best way to make sure that the series goes ahead and that we can add that element of support to the recovery effort. That was one of the things that we discussed at a very high level with the England netball team that when we go ahead this has to be a part of it and they were fully onboard with it,” the president explained.

NJ announced that England Netball will donate £1 from every ticket sold for the Copper Box Arena games to NJ’s charity partner World Central Kitchen (WCK) — which is delivering “thousands of hot, culturally familiar meals daily” to Jamaican families.

Fans can also add an optional donation at checkout. The Copper Box Arena is said to have a seating capacity of 7,500.

Eboni Usoro-Brown, president of England Netball, said that the relationship between England Netball and NJ runs far deeper than anything that happens on the court.

“Having faced the Sunshine Girls throughout my playing career, I know first-hand the passion, pride, and resilience they bring to every match. They are more than opponents; they have shaped some of the most defining moments in our sport,” she stated in the press release.

“As someone with Jamaican heritage, it fills me with immense pride to see England Netball stand in support at a time when Jamaica needs us most. While the Sunshine Girls are unable to host their home fixtures, we are committed to welcoming them to London with open arms and ensuring they feel respected, supported, and at home.

“I know our England Netball community will rise to the occasion. The kindness, generosity, and unity within our sport are second to none, and I have every confidence that our fans will show the Sunshine Girls just how strong the bond between our nations truly is. Together, we stand shoulder to shoulder, on and off the court,” Usoro-Brown said.

Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls were already grappling with selection hurdles heading into the series, with several key players unavailable for personal and professional reasons. The Observer was told that regular captain Jhaniele Fowler-Reid, along with Romelda Aiken-George, Shimona Nelson, and Latanya Wilson, have all withdrawn from the squad. Meanwhile, Shamera Sterling-Humphrey recently gave birth, and Jodi-Ann Ward is recovering from surgery.

Commenting on the squad selected for the series, Baugh said: “Every name that is there is a Sunshine Girls who is previous capped. We know that some people that you were expecting to see are not on the squad and they are not on it for various reasons. But the coaches are working with the best available team [that] we have and we are going to go out there and give it our best shot.”

Sunshine Girls Squad:

Shooters – Shanice Beckford, Rhea Dixon, Simone Gordon, Gezelle Allison, and Mischa Creary.

Centre Court – Khadijah Williams, Adean Thomas, Abigale Sutherland, Crystal Plummer, and Zaudi Green.

Defenders – Kimone Shaw, Vangelee Williams, Theresa Beckford, Roxanna McLean, and Paula Ann Burton.

Staff: Sasher Gaye Henry-Wright (head coach), Kerry-Ann Brown (intern coach); Dr Michelle Holt (team doctor), Offneil Lamont (physiotherapist); and Maureen Brown (team manager).

BAUGH… we were working very hard on putting on a great show

Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls netball team celebrates victory over England in the Horizon Series in November 2024. (Photos: Collin Reid)

Supporters cheer during a match in the Horizon Netball Series between Jamaica and visitors England at the National Indoor Sport Centre on November 26, 2024.