Josie Pointon is new Roses Pathway Head Coach

Josie Pointon has been announced as the new Roses Pathway Head Coach, overseeing the Future Roses Programme and the Roses Academy.

Pointon, who is the current Pathway Lead, NXT Gen Head Coach and Netball Super League (NSL) Technical Coach for Loughborough Lightning, brings a wealth of experience coaching in pathway environments into the role. Since October 2022 she has also served as Scotland U21 Assistant Coach, forming an important part of the coaching team who led the squad to an equal best placing of sixth at the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar, and her leadership of Loughborough Lightning’s NXT Gen squad saw them crowned champions in the League’s inaugural season.

Her appointment as Roses Pathway Head Coach, a role which she will begin in January 2026, will see Pointon take on the responsibility of leading the identification, development, coaching and preparation of the most talented young athletes, in order that they may be ‘Roses-ready’. She will play an important role in preparing athletes for the specific demands of international netball to support the Vitality Roses’ ambitions to win major global events, working closely with Vitality Roses Head Coach Jess Thirlby and Head of Player Pathway Patrick O’Grady to ensure that athlete development across the Player Pathway is aligned to future Vitality Roses success.

England Netball Director of Performance David Parsons said: “I am delighted to welcome Josie to the England Netball Performance team and into this important position. Identifying athletes of high potential and providing them with opportunities to train and compete together on our national programmes and teams plays a key role in the development of future Vitality Roses and NSL athletes. Josie has an excellent track record of developing athletes with Loughborough Lightning, and we are excited for her to build on the great work that Sonia Mkoloma and the team have undertaken in the last couple of years.

“Sonia has been instrumental in leading the Roses Pathway recently and has established strong foundations. On behalf of everyone in the Performance team and at England Netball, I’d like to thank Sonia for her commitment to the role and wish her every success as she moves onto Birmingham Panthers.”

Pointon’s role will involve leading Pathway athletes through national training camps and competitive tours, both at home and overseas, and preparing for competition programmes including global events such as the Netball World Youth Cup and Commonwealth Youth Games, bi-lateral series with other top-ranked nations and annual Europe Netball events. She will also support Pathway athletes’ development within NSL and NXT Gen Club environments, informing the development of player pathway programmes across the game.

Reflecting on her appointment, Pointon said: “I’m truly honoured to have this opportunity to represent England. This new chapter is incredibly exciting, offering a chance to work with emerging talent, support their transition into the NSL and Vitality Roses, and of course, continue building on the positive results from the Netball World Youth Cup. I look forward to what lies ahead for the Roses Pathway and can’t wait to get started.”