The England men’s team, or the England Thorns, played their first international match in October 2022, after being formed just seven months earlier.
They were defeated by hosts Australia 73-27 but it was a landmark moment for men’s netball back home.
“We didn’t get people saying ‘Oh God, you got beaten by 60 goals’. People were like, ‘It was really impressive to see you go out there, and show that the UK is developing in the netball world’,” Thomson-Boston said.
Since that tour, male participation in netball has more than tripled in England. There are now over 70 clubs across the UK offering men’s and mixed teams.
The England Men’s and Mixed Netball Association, EMMNA, is looking to expand its National Championships given the increasing demand from clubs to be involved.
There were 14 teams involved in the first men’s and mixed National Championships in 2021. This year, they have 48 teams competing, with a further 10 on a waiting list.
The men’s game continues to grow around the world.
Australia, a dominant force in both men’s and women’s netball, has been running a Men’s and Mixed Netball Championship for more than 40 years.
“People [in Australia] are encouraged from a young age to play the sport and to really see it as a viable option”, Thomson-Boston said.
New Zealand, the Caribbean and Americas regions all field men’s national teams, and clubs continue to emerge across Africa.
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