Fran Plom named as Netball France Coach

Netball France has appointed Francesca Plom as the first head coach of the national netball team of France.Briton Plom, a former Vitality National Super League (VNSL) player, will take responsibility for the French national senior squad, which will make its debut international appearance at the Europe Netball Challenge tournament in 2023 (subject to government approval).

Plom currently plays in the National Premier League in England while serving as Under 17 National Academy Head Coach at VNSL club London Pulse, which last season medalled in the English National Performance League Playoffs.

She will be mentored by former longtime Australia Diamonds head coach and current London Pulse Performance Director Lisa Alexander OAM.

London Pulse is supporting Plom’s appointment as part of a wide-ranging partnership with Netball France, which includes delivering a national development hub in Paris since 2021.

Francesca Plom said: “I’m incredibly proud to be named the first-ever French national team coach. This is the pinnacle of my coaching journey so far and I can’t wait to get stuck in. There’s a lot of talent to work with in France and the enthusiasm of everyone I’ve met here is infectious. I’m honoured and excited to have this opportunity to contribute to netball’s international development.”

Bethany Lord, President of Netball France, said: “Fran’s appointment is a huge milestone for the development of netball in France. We are incredibly fortunate to have secured such a talented and experienced coach, and we thank London Pulse for their continued support as we seek to grow the sport at all levels in this country – top down and bottom up. France is one of the world’s leading sports countries and we are committed to ensuring netball is part of its sporting mix.”

Plom’s appointment was made ahead of trials for the inaugural French national senior and under-21 squads, which took place this weekend in Paris alongside the second annual Coupe de France de Netball.

More than 80 players based across France and the UK put themselves forward for selection, with eligibility requirements matching those of World Netball: citizenship, heritage, and/or two years continuous legal residency in France.

Selections will be announced later this month ahead of a first official training camp in Paris in late November.

National team development is among a range of priorities outlined in the three-year Netball France strategy published in August. For more information: https://netballfrance.com/netball-france/netball-france-strategic-plan-2022-2025-launches/

PIC shows Francesca Plom poses alongside Louise Fitzpatrick of LMML Netball club who won the competition to design France’s first national team dress in partnership with FLYHAWK. The winning concepts were unveiled at the Coupe de France de Netball 2022 at the British School of Paris on September 24.