England have the potential to become the world's best netball team, says Dan Ryan
Tuesday 8 March 2016 14:30, UK
England's netball team have the potential to win the next World Cup, says Manchester Thunder head coach Dan Ryan.
Ryan left his home country of Australia to take charge of the Thunder in the summer and has steered the Manchester side to six wins in the Vitality Netball Superleague, with just a solitary loss.
Thunder's line-up features England internationals such as Helen Housby and Sara Bayman, who suffered a 3-0 Tri-series defeat to world champions Australia in January.
Despite these defeats, Ryan believes the standard of netball has made big strides in this country, with homegrown players testing themselves against top overseas talent in the Superleague.
But the former assistant at the Adelaide Thunderbirds insists English netball authorities must match the professional infrastructure in the ANZ Championship, if they want to challenge Australia and New Zealand's national teams.
If England can mirror what the Australians and New Zealand, then there is no reason why England can't be No 1 nation in the world at the next World Cup.
"The Superleague at the moment is at the most exciting phase it has ever been at," Ryan told Sportswomen on Sky Sports News HQ. "I think having the imports here is really important for promoting the product of the game, getting people to view matches on TV and in the audience.
"I think what England need to do as a national body is almost mirror what Australia and New Zealand do in terms of having full-time professional athletes. Here the athletes are just as good as anywhere else in the world, but the infrastructure and programmes need to match what the rest of the world are doing.
"If England can mirror what the Australians and New Zealand do back home, then there is no reason why England can't be No 1 nation in the world at the next World Cup."
