Jess Thirlby, the former head coach of England netball, has expressed the difficulty of missing the opportunity to lead her nation at the upcoming Commonwealth Games. Despite describing the situation as 'horrible', Thirlby affirmed her contentment with the decision to step down earlier this year, citing family reasons as the primary factor behind her resignation.
Thirlby’s departure in March 2026 came just 130 days before the start of the Games in Glasgow, which commence on 23 July. Her six-and-a-half-year tenure saw significant achievements, most notably guiding England to a World Cup silver medal in 2023. The news of her resignation was met with surprise across the netball community, given her successful leadership and the team's strong performance.
Reflecting on her time, Thirlby told BBC Total Sport, 'They are the best jobs in the world, being able to lead your country.' She acknowledged that her decision might appear 'confusing' to outsiders but emphasised its necessity for her and her family. Thirlby also highlighted her ambition to foster a culture of trust in homegrown coaches within the England setup, believing that the nation has often been too quick to change coaching personnel.
Under Thirlby's guidance, England's netball team reached its highest-ever ranking of second in the world. She believes the gap between England and dominant forces like Australia has significantly narrowed. 'The fact that our fans are expectant now for the team to be successful is a million miles away from when I represented England,' she stated, recalling a time when expectations were limited to 'damage limitation'.
England, now under the stewardship of new head coach Anna Stembridge, is set to face a challenging pool at the Commonwealth Games. They will compete against Australia, South Africa, Malawi, Tonga, and Northern Ireland, with their opening match against Northern Ireland scheduled for 25 July. Thirlby remains optimistic about England's prospects, suggesting that facing strong teams early on could provide valuable preparation for the semi-finals.