More Than a Game: Netball Is Home for Meg Jones

Photo Credit: Jonathan Martin

"Caledonia, you're calling me, and now I'm going home, if I should become a stranger. You know that it would make me more than sad; Caledonia has been everything I've ever had."

Weirdly, I always associate Dougie MacLean's 'Caledonia' with sport. An ode to his home, the connection, the pride. It's a unique relationship. Home is not always a piece of land or the stars above one's head. Sometimes it is a court beneath your feet, teammates standing beside you and a badge close to your heart. For an athlete, sport can become home, a place where memories are forged, friendships are built, and moments live on forever. For Meg Jones, home is netball, a sport that has helped shape her story so far.

A steadfast passion

"Netball is a game I've adored since I first really understood it at around 11 or 12, and then even more from 14 when I started playing properly. It's my space where I can fully be myself, unapologetically competitive and completely immersed in every minute I'm around it. Wherever I'm playing or coaching, it essentially becomes my second home. Outside of my personal life, netball is a huge part of what makes me, me."

Netball has provided Jones a platform to be her best self. An enduring presence in her life, it has had a massive influence on Jones. The University of South Wales is an institution that has witnessed Jones' talent. She has been a part of the team as both a player and a coach. The university means a tremendous amount to her.

USW

"USW means a lot to me because it's been such a big part of my journey. I coached at USW from 2019 to 2022 and then returned for the 2025/26 season. I also played for the BUCS 1st team for four years and was part of the team that earned promotion.

"As a coach, I've had successful seasons despite the losses, draws and different types of wins along the way. I've put so much time, effort and energy into USW, both in the past and now, so it will always mean a lot to me."

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Jones has created an abundance of memories on a USW court. However, one game in particular comes to mind. Jones tells the story with such detail that the moment almost comes alive again. The emotion, the significance and the memories remain as vivid as ever, showing exactly why some moments in sport never truly leave you.

"My favourite memory has to be when my parents came to watch one of our home games against Swansea. We were drawing 32-32 with about five minutes to go when I made an interception, which can sometimes be a rare occurrence! I was at the top of the circle, passed the ball out, received it back and scored the goal that put us into the lead. We went on to win the game, and that season we earned promotion. It's definitely a moment I'll always remember."

Along with playing for Eastside Leckwith Netball Club, Jones coaches USW's netball team. She talks about the lessons learnt through her coaching journey.

Coaching

"One of the biggest things I've learned is that not every player is coachable in the same way, and I'm not going to suit every player as a coach. Understanding that has helped me grow and adapt my approach."

Adapting is a vital part of life; knowing how to approach different situations as a coach is essential to getting the best from their players.  Jones also has a coaching business. She talks about which netball lessons apply to her business.

"Consistency, patience, discipline and social skills are all areas I'll continue to work on. There's always room to improve, and developing these qualities will be important in becoming the successful coach I want to be."

For Jones, the goal for the future is clear.

"My ambition is to become a full-time coach, make coaching my career and continue coaching with USW throughout that journey."

Jones has more dreams to chase, more memories to create and much more of her story to write. Yet at the heart of it all is something deeper than the game itself. Netball is not simply the sport she loves. It is where she belongs. It is where memories have been forged. It is home.

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Sirens Netball: A Club Where Everyone Belongs

“Sirens was formed because I wanted to create a netball club where women could come along, get active, meet people and play netball without feeling they already had to be experienced or at a certain standard.

“We know there are lots of fantastic netball clubs in the area, and it’s amazing to see women’s netball growing. We wanted to be part of that growth and give women another opportunity to get involved.

“From the beginning, we have aimed to make netball accessible, welcoming and fun. We don’t have trials or a waiting list, and you don’t have to be an experienced player to join us.”

A club born for people who want to play the sport they love whilst being a part of something bigger. The South Wales Sirens is a hub that provides netball for everyone.

What makes the club special

In a short time, the club has become a home for its players. It’s not all about results on the pitch; it’s about family and community.

“We’ve only been running for a year, but the community we’ve built has been incredible. We’ve had members join us who have told us they’ve had experiences at other clubs where they felt unwelcome or like they weren’t really part of the team. They’ve then come to Sirens and told us how welcome they’ve felt straight away.

“One thing I hear quite often is that you’ll never feel left out at Sirens, and that’s something we’re incredibly proud of.

“Our community also extends beyond our own members. We’ve built some brilliant relationships with other clubs, and there’s a real sense of teams supporting and encouraging each other. That reflects what we want Sirens to represent: women supporting women through sport.”

Never leaving anybody out is a vital part of sport, but it’s a message that speaks to life. In this fast-moving world, we must support each other: making sure nobody feels alone, being there for one another, being a community.

Values

“Our biggest value is community. We’re inclusive, welcoming and supportive, regardless of someone’s ability or experience.

“We also value accessibility, friendship, confidence and fun. We’re competitive on court, but winning isn’t everything. We want people to enjoy playing, make friends and feel like they genuinely belong.

“We often have mums whose children come and chill on the side benches (sometimes join in for five minutes); we really want to remove barriers to accessing sport in adult life.”

Strong values are the making of any club at any level: a steadfast foundation that aligns everyone who represents the club. That’s why the Sirens’ biggest achievement isn’t on the court.

“I think our proudest achievement is the community we’ve built in just one year.

“We’ve grown into a club with so many women involved, played league matches and friendlies, built connections with other clubs, and are currently organising our own tournament.

“But what makes me most proud is seeing women who may not have played sport for years come through the door, make friends, gain confidence and feel like they belong. That means more to us than any result on a scoreboard.”

The future

With fantastic values and a community behind them, the future looks bright for the Sirens.

“We want to keep growing while protecting the community feel that Sirens was built around.

“We’re excited to be part of the growth of women’s netball in Wales and want to help give even more women the opportunity to play, whether they’re completely new to the sport or have played for years.

“We’re also really excited for our first-ever tour to the Heart of Wales 7s next year, which will be a huge milestone for the club.

“We would love to continue growing, play more netball, organise more tournaments and create even more opportunities for women to get involved.

“Ultimately, we want Sirens to be known as a club where any woman can walk through the door and feel welcome, while playing our part in growing and supporting women’s netball across Wales.”

Sport should be a place where everyone feels they belong, and clubs like the Sirens make that possible. They open doors, create memories and give people the opportunity to experience the joy of playing the game they love. Results may be remembered for a season, but giving someone a place to belong can last a lifetime.

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Bridgend Hawks: Built on Netball, Family and Community

“Bridgend Hawks were founded by three sisters and a friend, four women with a shared love of netball and a passion for building the best club possible.

“Mental wellbeing is a huge part of what drives us at Bridgend Hawks. For many of us, netball is an escape from the pressures of everyday life. It’s a place where we can come together, support one another and feel part of one united club. The Hawks family means so much to some of our players that a few have even had Hawks tattoos!

“From the beginning, we’ve also made sure the club has a strong and responsible foundation. We’ve put a number of our members through first aid training, appointed safeguarding officers and established a club treasurer to ensure transparency for all our members.”

Bridgend Hawks were born out of passion and a love for netball. The club has a fitting story of family and community.

A special team

There is something unique about a local sports club. It provides a platform for people to play the game they love while being part of something bigger than themselves. The Hawks are a special club, and it didn’t take long for them to make an impact on the court.

“What makes Bridgend Hawks special is the safe, supportive environment we’ve created where every woman can feel comfortable being herself. Women in sport are incredibly important to us, and seeing how much the club has grown after just one year has been amazing.

“Giving back is also a huge part of who we are. Each year, with the support of our committee and members, we host a charity netball tournament and choose a different charity to support. This year, we raised an incredible £3,600 for bigmoose, a mental health charity.

“But Hawks is also about having fun! Whether we’re making silly TikToks, fundraising, organising quiz nights or getting together socially, there’s always plenty of laughter. We genuinely feel like one big family.

“We also love supporting our local community. This year, we delivered Easter eggs to the children’s ward at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital and, more recently, donated food, drinks and snacks to our local fire station in recognition of their efforts. The fact that we consistently have a large waiting list of women wanting to join Bridgend Hawks means so much to us.

“Our first season was one to remember. We entered three teams, which finished 1st, 2nd and 4th in their respective divisions. As we head into our second season in September, we’ve expanded to four teams, and we’re buzzing to get back on court.

“We’re competitive when the whistle blows, but we’re also each other’s biggest cheerleaders. We play for one another, support one another, and definitely know how to laugh along the way. For us, that’s the perfect balance.”

For the club, it’s all about giving back, which reflects the values it’s built on.

Values and community

“Our core values are women empowering women, kindness and positivity.

“We reinforce those values throughout everything we do because they’re especially important in a competitive sporting environment. There will always be good days and bad days, wins and losses, but whatever happens, we back each other and lift each other.”

These strong values build a steadfast foundation for a successful club. The Bridgend netball scene is truly growing, and the sense of community is clear.

“The Bridgend netball scene is thriving and continues to grow. The league is spread across four divisions, with every division competitive in its own right.

“There’s also a great sense of community within the league. While we naturally want to compete and perform at our best, there’s plenty of support between teams on league nights. It’s great to be part of a growing netball community where everyone shares the same passion for the sport.”

The future

Bridgend Hawks have already created a great history, and the future looks bright.

“Our ambition is to keep building on everything we’ve achieved so far while staying true to what Bridgend Hawks is all about.

“We’ll continue to host our annual charity tournaments, particularly after receiving such incredible feedback and support from the community. We also want to continue providing mentoring opportunities for new umpires, helping to develop and support the future of the sport.”

Results will come and go, but the connection between the Hawks and their community can last for generations. That bond is the heartbeat of the club, and it could carry them towards an incredibly exciting future.

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