England face Jamaica in Horizon Series live on BBC

Helen Hounsby holds netball in red England kit.Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

England are ranked fourth in the world

  • Published

Vitality Netball Horizon Series

13-14 December at 14:00 GMT

Copper Box Arena, London

Live on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport website and app

England take on Jamaica this Saturday and Sunday in the Horizon Series, and you can follow the action live on the BBC.

Jamaica won the inaugural 2024 Horizon series 2-1, which enabled them to leapfrog England and go third in the world rankings.

The 2025 series was originally meant to consist of four fixtures, with the first two matches in Jamaica in early December, followed by two games in England.

However, because of the devastation caused by Hurricane Melissa in the Caribbean, England Netball and Netball Jamaica took the decision to cancel the first two matches in Kingston. They will still play the remaining two games at London's Copper Box Arena, as originally planned.

With less than a year to go until the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, the Horizon Series provides crucial game time for both nations.

New Zealand wing attack intercepts ball.Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

England fell to a 2-1 series defeat by New Zealand last month

Can England bounce back?

The Vitality Roses - now fourth in the world - go into the meetings with Jamaica on the back of a 2-1 series defeat last month by New Zealand, who are ranked second.

New Zealand won the opening match 61-58, finishing strongly in the final quarter despite England's star shooter Eleanor Cardwell making her first appearance off the bench since returning from a serious knee injury.

Helen Housby was the star player in England's thrilling triumph in the second game. Player of the match Housby scored 23 points, including the first and last goals, to level the series.

But in the series decider, England were beaten 55-49. Afterwards, head coach Jess Thirlby said England were "really flat" and "a little bit too slow to adjust".

England players to watch

Eleanor Cardwell (goal shooter/goal attack - Manchester Thunder)

Returning from injury, she has won four Netball Super League titles as well as a World Cup silver medal.

Helen Housby (goal shooter/goal attack - New South Wales Swifts, Australia)

With more than 100 England caps, Housby brings experience and leadership to the team.

Olivia Tchine (goal shooter - London Pulse)

A real threat - Tchine was Netball Super League's second-top scorer last season with 451 goals.

Jaz Brown (goal keeper - NIC Leeds Rhinos)

Brown, who is set for her England debut, shone for a struggling Birmingham Panthers side last season and led the league for the most rebounds.

England v Jamaica - how to watch

  • First match: Saturday, 13 December, 14:00-16:00 GMT - iPlayer and BBC Sport website

  • Second match: Sunday, 14 December, 14:00-15:45 GMT - iPlayer and BBC Sport website

Related topics

Related topics