Rhea Dixon says connecting with her Jamaican heritage represents a “life-changing experience” for “my netball and my identity” as she prepares to play England, her country of birth, in the new Netball Horizon Series.
The Vitality Roses and Sunshine Girls are playing a four-match home and away series over the next two weekends, with first two matches taking place in England at Manchester’s AO Arena on November 16-17 before Kingston, Jamaica hosts the concluding games on November 25-26.
For goal-attack Dixon, who has joined the new Nottingham Forest Netball franchise for the relaunched Netball Super League in 2025, the series carries extra significance given it pitches her country of birth against the one she has switched to at international level since 2023.
Dixon represented England at U21 level but has chosen to play for the Jamaican senior side after qualifying for selection through her grandparents.
“It’s been on the cards for a while but never really materialised due to funding and resources on Jamaica’s end,” explained Dixon on Sky Sports’ Off the Court netball podcast.
“Now it’s been possible that they can buy me over and put me in a little house, it was an opportunity I couldn’t really say no to.
“It has been different to what I have experienced in England camps but that is to be expected. Very different and really challenging in lots of ways.
“I didn’t come out here for it to be easy, I came out here to be challenged, culturally as well as on the court – lots of learnings about Jamaican heritage and where I am from.
“It is something I have perhaps struggled with in the past – not being able to connect with my Jamaican side, so it is a life-changing experience, for my netball and my identity and who I am.”
This month’s series is set to see Dixon earn her first official Jamaica cap, and she added: “If you had told me a year or two ago that I would be in this squad playing with these players in England against England, I wouldn’t have believed you. I would probably have laughed at you.
Dixon (L) challenging for the ball in the 2024 Netball Super League Grand Final for champions Loughborough Lightning
“We have had chats about our ambitions for this series and it is definitely to win and put everything out there. To win and to win well.
“I came here to be uncomfortable and I have to remind myself during and after sessions, ‘this is what you came for, you don’t want it to be easy’.
“I am really building that confidence to be able to play my game and connect with people around me. I can’t just be starstruck all the time, I need to focus in and own my position.”
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Highlights from the final Test between New Zealand and Vitality Roses, where the Roses lost but still won the Test series 2-1
And on Jamaica playing two matches against England – who are now ranked second in the world after winning the Taini Jamison Trophy in New Zealand in October – on home soil, Dixon added: “Jamaica fans deserve to watch their best-performing sports team in their country.
“They barely get to watch them on their home soil so it’s really important for visibility. Hopefully it will bring a bit more backing and resource to the team as well.”
Dixon on ongoing evolution from ‘confidence player to a confident player’
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Ahead of the live Netball draw on Tuesday, some familiar faces were up at the top of the O2 to promo the 2025 new launch season. Matches will be played in multiple large arenas as well as the grand final at the O2 in July!
Dixon, who plays in both shooting positions as well as wing attack, has joined Nottingham Forest for the new-look 2025 NSL season – which starts live on Sky Sports on March 8 with the new Netball Super Cup – after winning consecutive league titles with Loughborough Lightning.
The 27-year-old won the MVP award in Loughborough’s 70-54 victory over the Manchester Thunder in this year’s Grand Final.
“I still do have dips in confidence but I am trying to go from being a confidence player to a confident player,” she said.
“Not just when things are good, I’m good but when things are bad I still want to be able to back myself.
“That is coming from the coaches and players around me.”
Sky Sports+ has officially launched and will be integrated into Sky TV, streaming service NOW and the Sky Sports app, giving Sky Sports customers access to over 50 per cent more live sport this year at no extra cost. Find out more here.