Reading-born netball star Fran Williams says missing out on the last Commonwealth Games squad helped shape her into the player now leading England into Glasgow 2026.
Williams will captain the Vitality Roses at this summer’s Commonwealth Games after an impressive rise over the past four years, having been left out of England’s squad for Birmingham 2022 despite establishing herself as one of the leading defenders in the Netball Super League.
At the time, then England head coach Jess Thirlby opted for more experienced defenders.
Rather than letting the disappointment derail her, Williams responded with an outstanding 2023 season, earning a move to Australian side West Coast Fever and co-captaining England at the Netball World Cup.
Now one of the world’s leading defenders, Williams believes the setback proved to be a turning point.
“I’m a completely different athlete,” she said.
“I would hope, and I know, that I’m a better athlete and better equipped going to these Games than I would have been in 2022.
“The squad selected then was more experienced, particularly in the defensive end, and I was still young and had lots to learn.
“I look back now and, whilst I would have been hurt and disappointed not to be picked after being involved a lot during that cycle, I can honestly reflect and ask whether I was really ready and whether I was bringing my best performances week in and week out.
“It definitely fuelled the fire in terms of the work I wanted to put in during the 2022–23 season leading into the World Cup. I remember telling myself that I was going to do everything possible to get myself into that World Cup side.
“Everyone’s journey is made up of different stories. Lots of people have had a far tougher journey than I have.
“I’m well aware that I’ve had lots of opportunity through my career and it has been relatively smooth sailing but all of those little bumps in the road definitely teach you a lot and make you a stronger athlete.”
Williams heads into the Games after another successful season with West Coast Fever, where she was named the club’s most valuable player as they reached the play-offs.
She said playing in Australia had helped her continue to develop and hopes to bring those experiences back to the England camp.
“I worked really hard this year and set myself some really high standards in terms of what I wanted to achieve and how I was going to be as an athlete through my training and recovery,” she said.
“As an athlete now, maturing and getting older, I’ve probably learned that all of that little stuff you do behind the scenes matters more than ever.
“I’ll always try and bring experience and things I’ve learned from playing in that environment back into England. At the same time, I’m well aware that the Roses environment and how the England team operates is slightly different.
“It’s about bringing in little shifts that I know will really help us continue driving our standards and increasing performance while keeping everyone feeling excited about this Commonwealth Games, full of belief and confidence.”
Williams will lead an England side that has faced a challenging build-up to Glasgow 2026, including the resignation of head coach Jess Thirlby and injuries to key players Helen Housby and Jaz Brown.
Despite that, the Reading defender believes England can still challenge for a medal.
“My approach to leadership has definitely evolved over the years,” she said.
“We’d be lying if we said we haven’t been dealt our fair share of challenges over the last year, whether that’s changes in personnel or the injuries we’ve faced with players like Jaz and Helen, who were a huge part of our journey to getting to this Commonwealth Games.
“For me, one of the biggest things I’m about now with this group is belief and investing everything into this next month or six weeks, because you have to wait four years for another chance.
“You have to throw everything at it, lean on each other, stay tighter than ever and keep backing each other.
“That’s what brings so much potential for this group. We know anything is possible and we’re very much going in with that mindset.”
National Lottery funding is the largest source of investment supporting the home nations’ preparations for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games, helping to provide training camps, equipment and performance services for athletes.
