Wright swift to re-sign with NSW for netball’s new era

The NSW Swifts will go into the new era of Australian netball with Rob Wright at the helm, the coach re-committing to the team until at least 2020.

Just a day after the Swifts were a part of a thrilling ANZ Championship Grand Final, where they suffered a narrow two-point loss to the Queensland Firebirds, Netball NSW confirmed that Wright had re-signed as head coach, with an option to extend the term for a further two years.

Originally joining the club as an assistant coach in 2010, Wright took the reigns as head coach in 2014 and proceeded to lead the club to the finals series in every season contested under his guidance. The last two years he has led the Swifts to the grand final, on both occasions the team fell agonizingly short of beating the Firebirds.

With yesterday’s season decider also being the final match contested as part of the ANZ Championship, Wright told Netball NSW that he was excited to be leading the Swifts into the new Australia only, eight-team National Netball League in 2017.

“I am a firm believer in the NSW Swifts, which is why it was a no‐brainer for me to continue my relationship with Netball NSW into the new Australian‐only elite netball competition from 2017,” Wright said.

“I’ve been involved with the Swifts for seven years now, and with Netball NSW for many years prior to that; we have worked hard to instil a strong culture and winning environment, and I have a lot of belief in the future of the Club.

“I’ve always said it’s just incredible to be doing this (Head Coach) as a job. Obviously, yesterday’s result was not the one we wanted, but the fight that the team showed, the effort, the gutsy play – I could not be prouder to be leading this Club and I’m really excited about the next chapter.”

The 2017 National Netball League will commence in February 2017 and is set to be the world’s premier women’s sporting league.