North Walian netball great Suzy Drane retires from the international scene

St Asaph born Suzy Drane has made the decision to retire from international netball.

Wales’ most capped netballer, aged 36, has had a long and illustrious career in the sport.

A former pupil of Rydal Penrhos, Colwyn Bay, Suzy played for Chester Netball Club up until 2004, UWIC from 2004-2008 and represented Celtic Dragons for 14 years (2005-2019). From Celtic Dragons, she moved to Bath Toucans.

Suzy made her debut for the national side, renamed the Welsh Feathers this year, in 2005 aged 18. She has represented Wales in 125 international matches including appearing at two Netball World Cups and four Commonwealth Games.

Drane signed off on the international stage in October by helping the Welsh Feathers qualify for the 2023 World Cup.

Suzy has had a leadership role for the majority of her time in the senior squad and is renowned as an inspirational figure for all whom she comes into contact with.

She is currently a lecturer in Sport Development and Performance Sport at Cardiff Metropolitan University, a role she took up in 2011.

Wales Netball chief executive Vicki Sutton said: “Suzy is so much more than a player. She does a lot of coach education for us.

“She’s very interested in developing players, which is something she’s going to help us with from this point on, so she can’t get away from us for good.”