The Netball Show
S7 Ep90: Fran Williams (22nd Nov 2024)
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It was such a special game and it was even more special, I think, to do it alongside Emo, someone who I've played a lot of those caps with and has definitely been a part of my journey through England right from as early as England under 17. So always a special time to play for England and an honor every time you step out on court, but even more special when you're recognizing an important milestone. - It was a game here in the UK, so you have the chance to have family and friends with you as well. - Yeah, definitely. I think it's always just an extra bonus. I guess if a cap like that lands on a home game and you've got the opportunity to play in front of our amazing fans at England netball and also have my family there watching and supporting who have helped me so much through my netballing journey so far. So yeah, it was a great, great day at Manchester. - Did you have a chance to celebrate on the day itself or was the fourth focus literally on the next game? - Well, I think, yeah, because it's the first game and you've got a tight turn around to test two. We were pretty straight on to recovery, our debrief process afterwards, but the squad and the coaches and all of the staff made a good amount of time, I think, to celebrate and acknowledge the achievement for myself and Imo. But then we were straight into business. We were a bit disappointed with that drawer on the Saturday. We knew we were capable of winning that game in the first test and that was what we'd set out to do and we bled for most of the game. So to come away with a drawer felt like a bit of a loss for us. So it was important that we turned that around, come game two times, so the focus pretty much switched to how we were going to be able to do that in 24 hours. - I'd expect as well for you putting on the Red Dress for England is never really taken for granted. So it's special every time, really, isn't it? - Yeah, definitely. And I think that's something we speak about a lot in our group, but you want to acknowledge every moment and opportunity that you get with England because it's rare and playing international test matches. Like you have to earn that opportunity to do it and the opportunity to do it doesn't even come along very often. So yeah, I think that's something we speak about every cap regardless of whoever it's your first or your fifth year. - As that young Fran Williams, that young net baller, could you ever see yourself reaching this total and what advice would you maybe have for those playing for fun, playing at school, part of books or prime, et cetera on a weekly basis? It's a real sport for everybody, isn't it? - Yeah, definitely. And I think net ball as it's growing is becoming even more and more inclusive. I mean, you can see that with just the way that the men's game is growing and soaring at the moment. But yeah, I don't think I did necessarily when I sat out with my net ball to know that I would end up playing 50 caps for England. But I think like we've just focusing on the next thing ahead and just trying to improve and be a better player, you kind of then find yourself up in these positions. So yeah, it's good way of then like taking the moment to reflect and see like how far and all of the achievements that you've had to this date. So it did kind of force me to do that a little bit, which is nice. - If I remember right, you made your senior roses debut back in November, 2018 against Uganda? - Yeah, that's correct. - Yeah. - Here we are in November, 2024, six years later. How have you grown as a player? There's one. - I mean, big question how I've grown as a player in that six years, 'cause I would say like, there's not always been like necessarily just a straight up trajectory in net ball and it never is for anyone really. And I think that's important in any sport to know. But like everyone's journey to getting from, you know, one cap to 50 caps will look different. And, you know, I've had years where I've played a lot for England, I've had years where I've not been selected or played as much. But, you know, just making sure that I'm always like focusing on the next short term goal, like ahead of me. Also wanting to improve and adapt as a player, putting myself in positions where I'm gonna be challenged, you know, working with new coaches, working with new players. I think they are all the kind of things that you have to try and do over your career to like, keep it exciting, keep yourself enjoying the game and like also improving. - And it's a national side as well. England have definitely grown under Jess and you've grown as a group of players, haven't you? - Yeah, definitely. And I think, you know, with Jess as well, she's been around now for quite a few years. So she's had a core group of players to kind of to like coach and see through major competitions. And now she's got some young, exciting players to work with within the squad that she's building. And I think that's really great position where the team has sat at the moment. And it's nice and we speak about like leaning into that a lot and playing with that freedom and excitement that we've got in the group and the different styles we've got to offer. So yeah, I think I'm just looking forward now to what this next cycle can bring and what we can achieve kind of going forward. And I feel like we're already achieving so much, bearing in mind, it's basically year one after a World Cup. - And definitely a way off, but the fact that you don't have to travel halfway around the world to play Scotland and Wales and that come games in Glasgow in a couple of years, that'll be nice. - Yeah, you know, it's really exciting for us at England at Ball, but the Com Games is firstly going ahead and then that netball's been included within that. We know how much netball thrives at the Com Games and draws in such exciting crowds and great level of competition and how important that major is for our sport. So yeah, we're feeling really pleased that we've got that kind of next thing to aim for as a group. And you know, to be doing it in Glasgow, kind of just up the most way will be really good for us. - And finally, Fran, how's things incumbent into those next couple of games in the series? - Yeah, it's good. I think, you know, Kingston Jamaica's full of a lot more some than maybe you guys have at home. We're seeing lots of family friends sending us pictures in the snow. - Just slightly. - Yeah, so we're feeling very lucky to be here and we've been so welcome so far by everyone in Jamaica and straight into training again, ready to just fix up those few things before heading into those two test matches next week. And, you know, we know playing away from home will be really difficult. And we know how passionate Jamaica are and how proud they'll be to be playing international netball again back on home soil. So we are tough, tough battle, but yeah, I think we've still got far more to give. - Thank you, Fran. - Thank you very much. - The netball show is now also available via SkyQ and Sky Glass. So let's sport and we're on the podcast trail.
Fran Williams recently celebrated her 50th cap for the Roses and we have been speaking to hear about the achivement