Welsh Netball is pleased to announce that it has appointed Natalie Peperell as Interim Assistant Coach for Wales and Celtic Dragons. Welsh Netball can also confirm that Lavinia Baker will join Wales as Interim Team Manager.
Peperell, who moves from her current voluntary role as Head Coach of Wales Under 21s, shared her excitement about taking on a new challenge. She said: “I am excited for the next challenge in my career in taking on this role with Wales and Celtic Dragons.”
Peperell began her performance coaching career in 2011 and has worked with both Team Bath and England performance pathways. Peperell has also served as Head Coach of Switzerland Under 17s where she guided the Swiss to a first ever Netball Europe gold medal in 2015.
In 2016, Peperell joined Welsh Netball as Under 21s coach. Lavinia Baker, who has years of experience within the Welsh Netball pathway, has also been working with the Wales Under 21s squad as voluntary team manager.
Rosie Pretorius, Welsh Netball Head of Performance was pleased to have secured the services of the Under 21s duo. She said: “We are pleased that we have been able to elevate Nat and Lavinia into these vacant voluntary roles. As core members of the Under 21s management, they will be very familiar with Welsh Netball’s structures and processes.”
She added: “It is great to progress Nat into a coaching role with Wales and Celtic Dragons. She will bring some fresh insight into the role and her tournament experience with the Under 21s will prove invaluable.”
“We are also very fortunate to be able to bring Lavinia into the Team Manager position with Wales. Lavinia has excellent organisational skills and her attention to detail will be crucial to the role. Her professionalism and knowledge will provide the team with a firm foundation to go out and perform.”