| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Suzanne Drane | ||
| Born | 27 November 1986 [1] St Asaph, Wales [2] | ||
| Height | 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in) [3] | ||
| School | Rydal Penrhos Christleton High School | ||
| University | University of Wales Institute Cardiff | ||
| Netball career | |||
| Playing position(s): C, WD, WA | |||
| Years | Club team(s) | Apps | |
| 1997–2004 | Chester Netball Club | ||
| 2004-2008 | UWIC | ||
| 2005-2019 | Celtic Dragons | ||
| 2017 | → Celtic Flames | ||
| 2019– | Team Bath Toucans | ||
| Years | National team(s) | Caps | |
| 2005-2022 | Wales | 125 | |
Suzy Drane is a former Wales netball international. She captained Wales at the 2011 World Netball Championships and the 2015 Netball World Cup and at the 2014, 2018 and 2022 Commonwealth Games. She also represented Wales at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. Between 2005 and 2019, she played for Celtic Dragons in the Netball Superleague. She captained Dragons when they finished as runners up in the 2013 Netball Superleague. Since 2018, she has worked as a Senior Lecturer in Sport Development at Cardiff Metropolitan University. In September 2023, Drane became the third netball player to be inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame.
Between 1989 and 1997, Drane attended Rydal Penrhos. [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] Between 1997 and 2004 she attended Christleton High School, after her family moved from Llandudno to Waverton, Cheshire. [4] [9] [10] Between 2004 and 2015, she attended Cardiff Metropolitan University. When she first started studying, the university was known as the University of Wales Institute Cardiff. The university subsequently changed it's name while she was completing her studies. During this time she gained a BSc in Sport Development, a MSc in Sport Physical Activity and Health, a Post Graduate Certificate in Teaching in Higher Education and a Doctorate in Sport. [4] [11] Since 2018, she has worked as a Senior Lecturer in Sport Development at Cardiff Metropolitan University. [4] [12] In July 2018, Drane was awarded an Honorary Fellowship by the NPTC Group of Colleges. [13] Since 2023, she has served board memmber and chair with Commonwealth Games Wales. [4] [14] [15]
In 1997, aged 11, Drane began playing for Chester Netball Club. She continued playing for the club until 2004. Between 2004 and 2008 she played for University of Wales Institute Cardiff. She also represented Cheshire at under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels. [2] [8] [9] [10]
Between 2005 and 2019, Drane played for Celtic Dragons in the Netball Superleague. In 2005, she was a founding member of the Dragons team. She captained Dragons for eight seasons. [4] [16] [17] [18] [19] She was captain when Dragons finished as runners up in the 2013 Netball Superleague, losing 62–56 to Team Bath in the grand final. [20] [21] [22] She also captained Dragons when they played as Celtic Flames in the 2017 Netball New Zealand Super Club. [3] [23] [24] [25] In October 2019, Drane announced she was leaving Dragons. [17] [18]
In 2019, Drane joined Team Bath Toucans, Team Bath's England Netball Premier League team. [2] [6] [17] [19] [26] [27]
Between 2005 and 2022, Drane made 125 senior appearances for Wales. [2] [7] [8] [28] [29] [30] On 23 June 2005, she made her senior debut for Wales against Jamaica. [30] She had previously represented Wales at under-17, under-19 and under-21 levels. [9] [16] She subsequently represented Wales at the 2006 Commonwealth Games. [1] [31] [32] [33] She first captained Wales in 2010 [2] and went onto captain and/or co-captain Wales at the 2011 World Netball Championships [34] and the 2015 Netball World Cup [35] and at the 2014, [36] 2018 [37] and 2022 Commonwealth Games. [38] In May 2016, Drane made her 75th senior appearance for Wales at the 2016 Netball Europe Open Championships. [39] On 9 July 2019, she made her 100th senior appearance in a 72–53 win over Grenada. [29] [40] [41] On 20 July 2022, during a home test series, against South Africa, Drane made her 112th senior appearance for Wales. This saw her surpass Helen Weston to become the most capped Wales netball international. [42] On 16 October 2022, she made her 125th and final appearance for Wales against Scotland in a 2023 Netball World Cup qualifier. Out of 125 games, Drane drew 3, won 65 and lost 57, with a win rate of 52%. [30] In September 2023, Drane became the third netball player to be inducted into the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame. [43]
Source: [30]