Unibet Renews Partnership with Northern Ireland Warriors Ahead of 2025 Celtic Cup 

Netball Northern Ireland is proud to announce that Unibet has renewed its support for the Northern Ireland Warriors as they prepare to compete in the second Celtic Cup, taking place at Glasgow’s Emirates Arena this November. 

Following the success of last year’s collaboration, Unibet’s renewed partnership reflects a shared belief in the Warriors’ potential and the growing profile of elite netball in Northern Ireland. This year’s Celtic Cup promises to be even more competitive, with six international teams battling it out over an action-packed week. The NI Warriors, currently ranked 12th in the world, will face formidable opponents including Scotland (10th), Wales (6th), Uganda (7th), Zimbabwe (13th), and Namibia (15th). 

Adam Gaskell, Head of UK Brand Marketing at FDJ United, said:
“We’re thrilled to continue our support for the Northern Ireland Warriors. Their passion, resilience, and commitment to excellence embody everything we value in sport. The Celtic Cup is a fantastic platform to showcase their talent, and we’re proud to stand behind them once again.” 

NNI also extends huge thanks to Martin James of Sports 360, whose unwavering advocacy for the Warriors has been instrumental in securing this partnership. 

Martin James commented:
“The Warriors represent something truly special — a team that punches above its weight and inspires a nation. Supporting them isn’t just about sport; it’s about belief, visibility, and giving these athletes the stage they deserve.” 

Sheonah Forbes, Head Coach of the NI Warriors, shared:
“This continued support from Unibet is a huge boost for our squad. It not only fuels our ambition but also highlights the growing recognition of netball in Northern Ireland. We’re proud to represent our Northern Ireland and are determined to make a strong impact at the Celtic Cup.” 

Karen Rollo, Chief Executive of Netball Northern Ireland, added:
“We are deeply grateful to Unibet for their continued investment in our national team. Their support allows us to take these opportunities to compete at the highest level and grow the visibility of netball. We also thank Martin James for his belief in our athletes and his role in championing this partnership. The Celtic Cup is a key moment in our calendar, and we’re ready to compete against our closest on-court rivals.” 

Tickets for the Celtic Cup are now available via Fanbase.  

https://app.fanbaseclub.com/Fan/Fixtures  

Join us in Glasgow to cheer on the Warriors as they take on this next challenge. 

 

NI Warriors Squad selected for Celtic Cup 2025 

Netball Northern Ireland are delighted to announce the NI Warriors squad, captained by Michelle Magee, that will be travelling to Glasgow to compete in the second Celtic Cup involving 5 other nations. A 15-strong squad has been selected for this opportunity to represent Northern Ireland in a 5-day test match competition.

The competition will be hosted at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Scotland, running from 26th – 30th November. Competing teams are Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and invitational teams from Namibia, Uganda and Zimbabwe, all competing at the highest level in an elite international showcase of competitive netball.  

Sheonah Forbes, NI Warriors Head Coach: 

 We are looking forward to travelling to Glasgow to compete in the Celtic Cup for the second year running with the addition of nations Uganda and Namibia. This is a key part of our building block towards the Commonwealth Games in July 2026, competing against the top nations in the world, as well as consolidating partnerships within the squad. It is exciting to see this event grow for the second year running and we look forward to bringing our Warriors style to complete against the best.

 

Warriors Squad:  

Name   Club/Franchise    Court Area  
Lisa Carlin  Oaksway NC  Circle Defence 
Niamh Cooper   Nottingham Forest NSL  Centre Court  
Ciara Crosbie   Tameside NC   Circle Attack  
Emilia Gordon   Crumlin NC   Circle Attack   
Frances Keenan   Belfast Ladies NC   Centre Court  
Emma Magee   GMR Majors   Circle Attack   
Michelle Magee (C)  Birmingham Panthers NSL  Circle Defence  
Evelyn McCagherty   Nottingham Forest Nxt Gen   Centre Court  
Maria McCann   Belfast Ladies NC   Circle Defence  
Georgie McGrath   Kingsway NC   Circle Attack  
Orla McGeough  Tameside NC  Centre Court 
Ana Mulholland  Crumlin Community NC  Centre Court 
Caroline O’Hanlon (VC)  Larkfield NC  Centre Court 
Orlaith Rogers   Leeds Rhinos Nxt Gen  Circle Attack  
Lauren Walshe   Belfast Ladies NC   Circle Defence  

  

Head Coach: Sheonah Forbes  

Assistant Coach: Shaunagh Craig 

Team Manager: Laura Lovett 

Physio: Sinead Chambers 

Performance Analyst: Lauren Webb 

 

Event Schedule:  

Match 1: Zimbabwe v Northern Ireland – 17:00 

Match 2: Northern Ireland v Uganda – 14:30 

Match 3: Wales v Northern Ireland – 17:00 

Match 4: Northern Ireland v Scotland – 17:30 

Match 5: Namibia v Northern Ireland – 12:30 

 

Support Our Journey: If you would like to show your support for the NI Warriors, please donate here. 

Tickets: Buy tickets to the Celtic Cup here:  CELTIC CUP TICKETS 

Merchandise: Visit Netball UK to buy merchandise WARRIORS NUK Kit  

 

Netball Northern Ireland will bring you updates via our social platforms and where you can view vis BBC iPlayer. 

 

U15 Academy Athletes Announced 2025/26

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Netball Northern Ireland proud to represent Team NI at fourth successive Commonwealth Games

Netball Northern Ireland is immensely proud that our Warriors will once again represent Team NI at the Commonwealth Games — marking their fourth consecutive appearance on this prestigious international stage.

Maintaining a top-12 world ranking consistently over the past decade is a tremendous achievement and a testament to the Warriors’ resilience, talent, and dedication. Competing against the world’s best, our athletes continue to demonstrate the determination and pride that define Northern Ireland netball.

We would like to thank Team NI for their continued support throughout our qualification process and preparations. Their collaboration with our performance team and support from the Sport Institute Northern Ireland will be invaluable in helping ensure our athletes are in the best possible shape to compete on the world stage.

The Commonwealth Games provide a fantastic opportunity to showcase the passion and strength of our sport, raise the profile of Northern Ireland Netball, and inspire the next generation of players.

As we look ahead, we are also seeking partners and individual athlete sponsors to join us on this exciting journey. Your support will help our athletes prepare, perform, and continue to make Northern Ireland proud at the highest level.

Commonwealth Games 2026: https://www.glasgow2026.com

Partner with us: Support the Warriors

Enquire: pathwaymanager@netballni.org – David Irwin, Pathway Manager

Netball NI Remember Carol Alexander 💚
Alongside the global netball family, we are deeply saddened at the passing of Carol Alexander.
A dedicated volunteer for our sport, she was always there with a helping hand and a kind word, so much so, that she recently became a member of our Officiating Working Group, providing invaluable expertise and understanding.
Carol, and her husband Bill, have been close friends of Netball Northern Ireland for many years sharing their knowledge and experience with us, we were thrilled to see her appointed as a technical official for the World Youth Cup in Gibraltar and proud to have her as our member.
Our thoughts are with Bill, Sarah and everyone closest to her at this time.

Netball NI Welcomes New Pathway Manager

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Celtic Cup – November 2025

Emirates Arena in Glasgow will host an expanded second edition of Netball’s Celtic Cup in 2025 with six nations confirming their attendance.

International netball continues this November with the Celtic Cup being hosted at the Emirates
Arena in Glasgow, Scotland. Running from the 26th to 30th of November, teams from Northern
Ireland, Scotland, Wales, and invitational teams Zimbabwe, Uganda and Namibia will
compete for the Celtic Cup in a showcase of elite-level, competitive netball.
The Celtic Cup was created by Netball Northern Ireland, Netball Scotland, and Wales Netball to
provide the best competitive tournament for athletes and spectators alike outside of the World
Cup and Commonwealth Games.

Ken Hay CEO of Netball Scotland, is looking forward to the 2025 version of the Celtic Cup:

“I am so thrilled to be welcoming everyone to this year’s Celtic Cup in Glasgow in November –
athletes, coaches, and of course the fans – for what promises to be a feast of international
netball. I’m particularly delighted that we have three African nations joining the three Celtic
nations – making it a real intercontinental contest. The Scottish Thistles performed brilliantly in
the PacificAus Series in February, and this will be a fantastic opportunity for them to show how
far the team have come under Head Coach, Kath Tetley. Massive thanks to our partners Netball Northern Ireland and Wales Netball in working with us in planning and organising this year’s event.”

Netball Northern Ireland Chief Executive Karen Rollo is excited about what lies ahead:

“I am absolutely delighted for Netball NI to be part of the second year of the Celtic Cup. The
inaugural event was a tremendous success, and this year promises to be even more exciting
with more teams and a longer competition. It’s fantastic to see the event grow, and we’re proud
to support the NI Warriors as they take on both familiar rivals and new challengers—including
Namibia, who we welcome for the first time. Huge thanks to Netball Scotland for leading the
way in organising this brilliant event. We look forward to seeing a strong turnout of Warrior
supporters in Glasgow, cheering on our team.”

 

Welsh Feathers CEO Sarah Boswell is equally keen for more International Netball:

“We’re incredibly excited to be heading to Scotland for year two of the Celtic Cup. Competing
against two of our fellow home nations and three strong international teams will be a great test
for our squad and an excellent opportunity to showcase the talent within the Welsh Feathers.
The atmosphere promises to be electric, and we can’t wait to get on the court and hear the
rumble of Welsh fans from the stands.”

The event is designed for both seasoned fans and novices, providing the opportunity to see
international netball at its best. The tournament will follow a round-robin format from
Wednesday to Sunday, meaning every match will be crucial to determine a first past the post
winner.

Event Details:
Dates: November 26-30, 2025
Venue: Emirates Arena, Glasgow
Teams: Welsh Feathers (Wales, ranked 6th), Uganda She Cranes (Uganda, ranked 7th),
Scottish Thistles (Scotland, ranked 10th), Northern Ireland Warriors (Northern Ireland, ranked
12th), Zimbabwe Gems (Zimbabwe, ranked 13th) and Namibia Desert Jewels (Namibia,
ranked 18th)

Ticketing Information
Supporters can pre-register for tickets here: https://forms.o ice.com/e/mBqwc9BjFt

Want to be at the heart of the action? We will be seeking volunteers to be part of the Celtic Cup
team! Keep an eye out for sign up information coming soon!

Northern Ireland U15 Regional Academy 2025/26

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