Jaz Brown didn’t take the normal route into enjoying skilled netball, in contrast to many gamers who begin enjoying from very younger and develop within the system. She began by enjoying tennis.
It wasn’t till Brown was 17 that she switched courts, and traded in her tennis skirt for a netball gown.
Final month, she made it to the highest of the nationwide recreation by making her England debut towards New Zealand, enjoying all three video games within the sequence.
“It’s been a journey and a half, to say the least,” Brown mentioned.
“It has been highs and lows of accidents, COVID, I’ve even been informed I am not adequate and issues like that.
“My coach again within the day mentioned that I would not make it to be knowledgeable netballer.
“I do think it’s hard, with the English league, as well as in the juniors, it’s more of if you age out of the under-21s and your name’s not made it, then you’re not in the running for much.”
Having grown up enjoying tennis, Brown would ultimately realise that she didn’t love the game sufficient to proceed committing a lot time to it. She stopped enjoying, and a want to remain energetic led her to netball.
In simply six years Jaz Brown went from not enjoying netball to enjoying for England, who’re ranked fourth on this planet
So she initially began enjoying in a neighborhood league, filling in at no matter place was out there, earlier than settling as a defender and progressing unexpectedly shortly into Premier League Netball with Charnwood.
“Luckily I have a mindset where I feel like regardless of who tells me anything, I’m still going to do it anyway,” Brown added.
“I feel like looking back and if I was still in that position, I would definitely say just to keep on going and don’t give a c**p about what anyone thinks or says and just prove them wrong.
“That goes to any younger woman or boy on the market that is in the same place to me, simply show them unsuitable and snicker at them whenever you’re up there.”
At Charnwood she met Jo Tripp, who took the young player under her wing and eventually gave Brown her first Netball Super League contract in 2023 at Severn Stars.
Brown then moved to Birmingham Panthers for the 2025 season, alongside Tripp became Panthers coach, until the pair both left at the end of this season.
In 2026, Brown will play for NIC Leeds Rhinos.
Jaz Brown and Funmi Fadoju have been the beginning duo in defence for all three of the video games within the New Zealand sequence
Brown’s England debut noticed her come up towards the formidable Kiwi shooter Grace Nweke, and she or he held her personal very properly alongside Funmi Fadoju.
The aim keeper, standing at over six foot, felt her debut “couldn’t have gone any better” and is aware of if she will carry out like that as a rookie, then there’s extra to come back.
She partly credit her time enjoying tennis for her success in netball.
Whereas Brown enjoys the staff side of netball, she is aware of that when put in an uncomfortable state of affairs on the courtroom, she will draw on her experiences of enjoying a person sport to dig herself out of it.
This weekend, Brown may play towards Jamaica, because the Roses proceed their Commonwealth Video games preparation.
Vitality Netball Horizon Sequence schedule in Jamaica
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Watch the highlights from the third recreation within the Vitality Worldwide Take a look at sequence between England and New Zealand, the place the Silver Ferns sealed a 2-1 sequence win
The primary two video games of the sequence initially set to be performed in Jamaica have been cancelled as a result of affect of Hurricane Melissa, so the sequence will now include two video games, each performed in London.
Saturday December 13: England vs Jamaica, 2.15pm – Copper Field Enviornment, London
Sunday December 14: England vs Jamaica, 2pm – Copper Field Enviornment, London
Occasions topic to slight change on account of broadcast necessities
