Nat Metcalf Returns to England Netball After Motherhood
Nat Metcalf, the captain of England netball, made her return to international competition against Jamaica at London’s Copper Box Arena. This marks her first match since giving birth to her daughter, Miller, who is now seven months old and often accompanies Metcalf to camps and events, highlighting the rise of the "netball mum" community.
Metcalf, who turned 33 on December 9, 2025, shared that retirement is not yet in her plans as she resumes her athletic career. She discovered she was pregnant in September 2024 during England's trip to Australia for a three-match series against the world number one side. Initially, her pregnancy was privately managed, with teammates told she was leaving due to an ongoing medical matter and later glandular fever.
She underwent postpartum recovery after an emergency caesarean section and gradually returned to training. At three months postpartum, Metcalf rejoined England's training camp, supported by her husband's ability to work remotely. She opted out of last month's 2-1 series defeat by New Zealand to focus on finishing preparations.
Beyond her personal journey, Metcalf is a member of a WhatsApp group comprising 27 elite international athlete mothers from 16 sports, fostering experience sharing and support. Her comeback against Jamaica precedes the February start of the Netball Super League domestic season.
