 play netball every week while 99,500 men play netball at least once a year. At elite level, ahead of this year's Commonwealth Games, the England Vitality Roses manager Jess Thirlby invited England's official men's netball team – England Thorns – for a training match. New Zealand and Australia, two heavyweights in world netball, have regularly pitted themselves against male sides in recent years. But this was a first for English netball and, though there was no score-keeping, Roses captain Nat Metcalf told Telegraph Sport it felt 'history-making' to see the sport's ongoing evolution play out on the court. 'The way they play the game, their range is incredible, the way they take the ball and they approach netball with different tactics,' added Metcalf of the men. At a time when female athletes from traditionally male sports are soaring in popularity – exemplified by the dominance of England women's football and rugby teams – netball has been forced to confront an uncomfortable reality. For years, the sport has prided itself on its predominantly female-status, which many see as its unique selling point. But it has also been a sticking point. Despite being played by some 20 million people across 76 count){kind=link}
The traditional image of the game is being transformed by the rise of mixed leagues with men playing in ever-increasing numbers
It is a cold, damp October weeknight on Clapham Common, but under the floodlights on the outdoor sports courts, rapid and physical competition is under way. Two netball matches are being contested alongside each other, and one after another, from 6:30pm through to 9pm. So far, so normal – except the players on court together are women and men.
Netball, once condemned as a schoolgirl sport, has been redefined in recent years as strong, powerful and competitive – thanks in major part to the England team’s gold-medal success at the 2018 Commonwealth Games. But though the widely held perception remains that netball is a sport for women and girls, the numbers suggest that is no longer the case.
Data from Sport England’s most recent Active Lives Survey says 86,300 boys (5-16) play netball every week while 99,500 men play netball at least once a year.
At elite level, ahead of this year’s Commonwealth Games, the England Vitality Roses manager Jess Thirlby invited England’s official men’s netball team – England Thorns – for a training match. New Zealand and Australia, two heavyweights in world netball, have regularly pitted themselves against male sides in recent years.