SASHER-GAYE Henry- Wright, the senior Sunshine Girls head coach, says the technical staff will intensify training for the upcoming netball Horizon Series against the England Roses.

Jamaica’s Sunshine Girls and the England Roses are to meet in a four-match series, with the first two encounters set for the Copper Box Arena in London, England, on November 21 and 22. The final two matches are slated for the National Indoor Sports Centre (NISC) in St Andrew, Jamaica, on December 5 and 6.

Henry-Wright said the focus is on addressing areas for improvement and testing player combinations, with an objective to show consistent growth across the four games.

“We are impressed with the ladies who have been selected [for the series], and we’re looking forward now to the few weeks that we have remaining to really intensify the training as much as we can,” Henry-Wright said.

“You know, [we’re] looking at the areas. Really pushing hard in areas that we need some more improvement on, and looking at the combinations — what will work, what we can do differently — heading into this series.

“One of the big things we’re focusing on is improving. We know it’s going to be a keenly contested four matches but we definitely want to improve each game, and we really want to see some growth and improvement throughout all four games,” she added.

The Horizon Series is contested in honour of two netball icons — Jamaica’s Molly Rhone and England’s Jean Hornsby — and has quickly developed into a keen rivalry since its inception in 2024.

That inaugural series produced a classic, with Jamaica claiming a 2-1 victory after one match was tied, underlining the evenly matched nature of the two sides.

Last year, England were declared 2-0 winners of the series after both matches in Jamaica were cancelled due to the devastating passage of Hurricane Melissa in October 2025, leaving unfinished business between the teams.

This year’s renewal carries added significance. It is expected to be Jamaica’s final major assignment before next year’s Netball World Cup, and comes on the back of a historic campaign for the Sunshine Girls who captured a silver medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

The coach admitted that naming the final squad was a difficult exercise given the depth of talent vying for positions, but said she is impressed with the group selected and confident in their ability to compete.

“So yes, the team has been named — and you know it was really a tough call to really name this team,” Henry-Wright said.

With the return of veteran shooter Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, who rejoins the squad after an absence due to pregnancy and childbirth, and a blend of youth and experience throughout the court, Jamaica will be aiming to not only show improvement from game to game but also to reclaim the Rhone-Hornsby Trophy on home soil in December.

HENRY-WRIGHT…we’re looking forward now to the few weeks that we have remaining to really intensify the training as much as we can (Photo: Joseph Wellington)