Thu | Nov 13, 2025

Netball Jamaica decision on Horizon Series to come this week

Published:Thursday | November 13, 2025 | 12:15 AMRobert Bailey/Gleaner Writer
Sunshine Girls goal defence Jodian Ward (third left) rises to challenge a shot by England Vitality Roses’ goal attack Lois Pearson (third right) during game three of the Horizon Netball Series at the National Indoor Sports Centre on November 25, 2024. Re
Antoine Lodge
Sunshine Girls goal defence Jodian Ward (third left) rises to challenge a shot by England Vitality Roses’ goal attack Lois Pearson (third right) during game three of the Horizon Netball Series at the National Indoor Sports Centre on November 25, 2024. Reacting to the action are England’s Helen Housby (left) and Sunshine Girls’ Shamera Sterling-Humphrey (second left). Jamaica won 50-49.

NETBALL JAMAICA (NJ) is scheduled to announce this week whether or not they will proceed with their much-anticipated Horizon Vitality Series against long-time rivals England next month, following the devastating impact of Category 5 Hurricane Melissa, which ravaged the western end of Jamaica.

The Gleaner has learned that Netball Jamaica and the England Netball Association have been locked in high-level meetings over the past couple of days.

A source close to the situation, who spoke to The Gleaner on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to give information, said NJ was in the process of completing discussions with their English counterparts and that a statement would be released afterwards.

However, NJ President Karen Baugh said she would not be commenting on the matter when contacted yesterday.

The 2025 Horizon Vitality Series was set to feature two home games for Jamaica at the National Indoor Sports Centre in Kingston on December 6 and 7, followed by two away fixtures at the Copper Box Arena in London, England, on December 13 and 14.

Meanwhile, Jamaica was expected to field a weakened team for the upcoming series, as several of their top players had made themselves unavailable for various reasons.

It is understood that captain Jhaniele Fowler-Nembhard, along with Romelda Aiken-George, Shimona Nelson-Jok, and Latanya Wilson have all withdrawn from the squad. Shamera Sterling-Humphrey recently gave birth, while Jodi-Ann Ward is recovering from surgery.

The Sunshine Girls won the inaugural Horizon Vitality Series between the two teams in 2024, 2–1. Game one, played at the O2 Arena in London, ended in a draw before England took game two. However, the Jamaicans stormed back to win games three and four on home soil to clinch the series.