What's happened
England's netball team has been defeated in the semi-finals, ending their bid for gold at the Commonwealth Games. They will contest bronze as New Zealand advances to the final. Several injuries and coaching changes shaped the campaign, with New Zealand dominating the semi-final.
What's behind the headline?
Key takeaways
- England is facing a rebuilding phase after a turbulent lead-up to Glasgow 2026, including a coaching change and injuries.
- New Zealand's efficiency and Grace Nweke's shooting proved decisive in the semi-final.
- Bronze remains on the table for England, but the challenge against the top side is substantial.
Questions for readers
- How will England adapt before the World Cup next year?
- Can England close the gap with Australia and New Zealand in time for Paris 2024?
How we got here
England reached the semi-finals after a dramatic comeback against South Africa, securing a 58-54 win. New Zealand beat England in the semi-finals to advance to the final. The tournament has seen coaching upheaval and player injuries affecting England's performance.
Our analysis
BBC Sport (BBC Business), Independent, The Guardian, BBC Sport (BBC Business) • Quotes from coaches and players indicate a tense but forward-looking mood as England seeks a bronze medal.
Go deeper
- What changes will England implement to improve their bronze chances?
- Who will captain England in the bronze match and how will they approach it?
- What does this campaign mean for England's World Cup preparations?
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New Zealand - Country in Oceania
New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It comprises two main landmasses—the North Island and the South Island —and around 600 smaller islands, covering a total area of 268,021 square kilometres.
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England - Country of the United Kingdom
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest of England and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. England is separated from continental Europe by
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Australia - Country in Oceania
Australia, officially known as the Commonwealth of Australia, is a sovereign country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands.
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Commonwealth Games - Multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth Games is an international multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930, and, with the exception of 1942 and 1946, has taken place every four years since then.
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South Africa - Country in Southern Africa
South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa, is the southernmost country in Africa. With over 59 million people, it is the world's 24th-most populous nation and covers an area of 1,221,037 square kilometres.
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Jamaica - Country in the Caribbean
Jamaica is an island country situated in the Caribbean Sea. Spanning 10,990 square kilometres in area, it is the third-largest island of the Greater Antilles and the Caribbean.
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Eleanor Cardwell - English netball player
Eleanor 'Ellie' Cardwell is an English international netball player. She plays in goal attack and goal shooter for England, and at the club level represents Manchester Thunder in the Netball Superleague. Cardwell was born in Blackpool.
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Grace Nweke - New Zealand netball player
Grace Nweke (;born February 7, 2002) is a New Zealand netball international. She first competed for New Zealand in September 2021.
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Glasgow - City in Scotland
Glasgow is the most populous city in Scotland, and the third most populous city in the United Kingdom, as of the 2019 estimated city population of 611,748.
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BBC Sport
BBC Sport is the sports division of the BBC, providing national sports coverage for BBC Television, radio and online. The BBC holds the television and radio UK broadcasting rights to several sports, broadcasting the sport live or alongside flagship analys