GIANTS Captain Jo Harten has been named as part of the English Roses’ 12-player squad for the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.
The GIANTS’ illustrious leader has also been named as the Roses vice-captain for the first time, alongside former Swift, Natalie Metcalf (nee Haythornthwaite).
The Roses enter the Commonwealth Games on home-soil as the defending Commonwealth Games Champions, following their one-goal victory over the Origin Australian Diamonds in the 2018 games held on the Gold Coast.
Birmingham will be the 32-year-old's fourth Commonwealth Games, after first appearing at the prestigious event in India in 2010.
Harten last played with her home nation in November 2021 for the Roses Reunited tour against the Jamaica Sunshine girls, after missing the most recent Netball Quad Series earlier this year due to COVID-19.
Ahead of her fourth Commonwealth Games appearance, Harten said she was most looking forward to playing in front of family friends.
“There’s no other feeling like representing England in front of a home crowd,” she said.
England created history back in 2018 when they defeated the Diamonds in the gold medal match and whilst it was four years ago, it's still fresh in their minds.
“We’re definitely going into this tournament knowing that last time we created history,” she said.
“We’re ready to challenge for the gold medal and will do everything we can to defend the title.”
Harten has been in a leadership role in club-land since the inception of GIANTS and is excited to take that skill set back into the Roses, after being named as the vice-captain for the upcoming competition.
"I'm excited for the opportunity to lead alongside my good friend Nat," she said.
"We have a great wealth of experience in the team, meaning we can lean on each other to help us succeed."
Harten will depart for England soon after the completion of the 2022 Suncorp Super Netball season, with the Commonwealth Games set to begin on July 28th.
England's first match will be against Trinidad and Tobago on July 29th.
