Play for Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland are currently ranked 12th in the World Netball rankings. We have competed in International Test events, and European Championships, the World Cup and Commonwealth Games events at senior level. Our U17, U19 and U21 squads compete in European and World Youth competitions.
Athletes may be eligible to represent Northern Ireland at international level if they meet the following guidelines as set out by World Netball –
National Squad Eligibility
AGE RANGE:
U17 – 16 on 31st December 2024
U19 – 18 on 31st December 2024
U21 – 20 on 31st December 2024
To be eligible to play for a National Association’s national representative team in any International Event, by the Submission Date for that Event a player must satisfy at least one of the following requirements and their National Association must provide corresponding Evidence of Eligibility to the INF:
(a) be born in that country or have at least one parent or grandparent born in that Country;
(b) reside in and have a fixed address in Northern Ireland for > 2 years (European Competition)
(c) reside in and have a fixed address in Northern Ireland for > 4 years (Commonwealth Games)
The Northern Ireland Act (1998)
Netball Northern Ireland is a stand-alone body recognised in its entirety by Netball Europe and the International Netball Federation.
As per the Northern Ireland Act 1998, citizens within Northern Ireland have the following birth right:
‘It is the birth right of all the people of Northern Ireland to identify themselves…as Irish or British or both, as they may so choose and accordingly…. to hold both a British and Irish Citizenship’.
Subsequently, Netball Players in Northern Ireland can choose to represent either Northern Ireland or Ireland at International level. It is up to the athlete to make an informed decision on which route they would like to take.
Camps:
Training camps for all squads will take place on weekends each month with longer camps scheduled throughout the school holidays.
Athletes wishing to be selected for, and those who are successful in selection into a National Squad should be training and competing at the highest club/representative level available to them weekly;
- 1st Division / Premier League Senior Club Team
- 1st / 2nd University Club Teams that play within BUCS Tier 1A or 2A
- NPL Franchise Squads
Performance Benchmarking Criteria
If you are interested in finding out more about our pathway, or to discuss if you are eligible to represent Northern Ireland, please contact Meg Wallace (performancecoordinator@netballni.org)