Former England footballer Paul Scholes has questioned England Netball’s decision to remove his daughter Alicia from the squad for upcoming matches against New Zealand and Jamaica.
Jess Thirlby’s squad includes Helen Housby, Eleanor Cardwell and Natalie Metcalfe, who returned from Lord’s and could be making her first match as a mother after giving birth in May.
However, despite both performing well in the Netball Super League and the Nations Cup earlier this year, Scholes was a notable absentee along with London Pulse teammate Zara Everitt.
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Helen Housby was named best shooter and player of the match at the 2023 Netball World Cup, where England finished runners-up.
On Tuesday, Pulse star Scholes revealed on social media that he was not injured and was available for selection.
Her father, Manchester United legend Paul, posted a photo of his daughter with the caption: “WA (Wing Attack) number 1 in Netball Super League 2025… @londonpulsenetball cleans up as Triple Crown winner.”
Alicia Scholes was part of the Pulse team that won their first NSL title by defeating defending champions Loughborough Lightning in July.
Instagram: @paulscholesaaa
Nine players from the Nations Cup winners retained their spots, while Emma Reiner and Jazz Brown received their first call-ups.
Brown shined for the struggling Birmingham Panthers last season, leading the league in rebounds.
Head coach Jess Thirlby said: “The competitiveness and depth of the Vitality Roses squad is at an all-time high, making for tough selection in this back-to-back series.”
“I would like to pay tribute to all the players who have worked tirelessly to prepare physically, technically and tactically to not only prepare in earnest for the game against New Zealand, but also to achieve the necessary results for next year’s Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
“It is inspiring to see the group leveling up both the intensity and quality of their training.
“The dynamics within the team are always evolving, which is always welcome, but we value the stability and continuity of our many experienced players who continue to maintain our high standards, and the stability and continuity of our new and returning players who rise to the challenge and deserve the opportunity to wear the red.”
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Fran Williams and Eleanor Cardwell will be back in red dresses together this fall
Vitality Roses Team:
Eleanor Cardwell (Manchester Thunder) – GS/GA
Sasha Glasgow (Australia, West Coast Fever) – GS/GA
Helen Housby (New South Wales Swifts, Australia) – Georgia, GS
Royce Pearson (Manchester Thunder) – Georgia, Washington
Liv Chine (London Pulse) – GS
Amy Carter (Manchester Thunder) – C, WD
Beth Cobden (Loughborough Lightning) – WD
Emma Reiner (Manchester Thunder) – Washington, California
Jess Shaw (Loughborough Lightning) – WA, California
Halimat Adio (London Pulse) – GK
Jazz Brown (NIC Leeds Rhinos) – GK
Funmi Fadoju (London Pulse) – GD, WD, GK
Francesca Williams (West Coast Fever, Australia) – GD, GK
*Natalie Metcalfe (Manchester Thunder) – Washington State, Georgia
*Selected only for the Vitality Netball Horizon Series match against Jamaica
Manchester Thunder have the most international players of any Netball Super League team, with only three players in the Pulse squad.
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Despite winning the Netball Super League for the first time in 2025, only three London Pulse players have been selected for the England squad
NSL runners-up Loughborough Lightning, despite being part of the Nations Cup winning team, only have two players in the squad, including Berry Neil.
Vitality Roses legends will also return to the court after some time away, including Housby (111 caps), Cardwell (71 caps) and Metcalf (86 caps).
Eleanor Cardwell and Helen Housby have always been a great pair in the English shooting world and are set to reunite this autumn
A further 16-player ‘England A’ squad has been selected and will play a series of games against Scotland and Northern Ireland over October and November.
The team is made up of a mix of Vitality Roses, Future Roses and Roses Academy athletes, but matches will be played behind closed doors due to standard confidentiality protocols for touring teams.
England A team:
Sophie Egbalan (NIC Leeds Rhinos – 2025) – Shooter
Hannah Gibson (London Pulse NXT Generation – 2025) – Shooter
Alice Harvey (Loughborough Lightning) – Defender
Molly Hall** (Loughborough Ligtner NXT Generation – 2025)
Kathy Howard (NIC Leeds Rhinos) – Midcourt
Isabel Kaye (Birmingham Panthers) – Midcourt
Sophie Kelly (London Pulse) – Archer
Niamh Kilgallen (NIC Leeds Rhinos) – Midcourt
Susie Riverside (London Mavericks) Midcourt
Jada Pechova (Nottingham Forest) – Defender
Izzy Phillips (London Mavericks) – Midcourt
Kira Rothwell (Birmingham Panther) – Marksman
Gracie Smith*** (London Pulse) – Midcourt
Emma Tucker (London Mavericks) – Shooter
Anya Williams (Nottingham Forest) – Shooter
Yomi Wilson (NIC Leeds Rhinos) – Defender
**Subject to fitness ***Only selected for Northern Ireland matches (not available for Scotland matches)
