By guest columnist, Peter Ryan.

For Phillipa Yarranton, netball has never been just a sport.

It’s been the thread running through her entire life: from childhood afternoons on the sidelines watching her mum play, to Commonwealth Games arenas and World Cup campaigns with Wales.

Along the way, the LexisNexis Dragons stalwart has racked up over 150 appearances, 41 goals, and a Dragon of the Year award, all while becoming one of the most respected voices in the Welsh game.

Now, as she prepares to leave the Dragons ahead of the NSL 2027 season and embark on a new adventure in Australia, Yarranton reflects on a career defined as much by resilience and relationships as it is by results.

In her own words, she looks back on the highs of Birmingham and Glasgow, the hard truths of a disappointing Commonwealth Games campaign, and the lessons that carried her through the setbacks along the way, all while opening up on the part of her identity that exists beyond the court.

It’s a story about netball, yes. But more than that, it’s a story about knowing when – and why – it’s time to write the next chapter.

“Netball has been a huge part of my life, and I don’t think I could ever properly put into words what it has given me,” Yarranton reflects.

“I actually came to netball through my mum, who loved the sport and would take me along as a child. It’s taken me to places I never imagined I’d go, from Commonwealth Games and World Cups to experiences and friendships that I’ll carry with me for the rest of my life.

“But I think one thing I’ve realised over the last couple of years is that, as much as I love netball, it isn’t everything. I’m a person before I’m a netball player, and there are so many other parts of my life that matter to me.

“I think when you’re an athlete, people sometimes only see one version of you.

“They see you turn up, train, play and perform, but there’s so much more to you than that. I’ve learnt to really value that: the friendships, the experiences away from the court, the person I am when I’m not in kit.

“I love netball, and I’m incredibly proud to be a netballer, but I’m also proud of who I am outside of it. I think that’s probably one of the biggest things I’ll take from my career.”

LexisNexis Dragons

Yarranton’s story includes clubs such as the Hotshots in Shropshire and Cardiff Met.

However, the club that is synonymous with her career is the LexisNexis Dragons. She joined the Cardiff-based club in 2022 and has been a consistent presence in the squad ever since. When Yarranton speaks, her love for the club comes through.

“The Dragons is incredibly special to me, and I don’t think I’ll ever be able to explain what this club has meant to me properly,” she says.

“I joined in 2022, and I knew very quickly that I’d found somewhere that felt right.

“Winning Dragon of the Year in my first season, voted for by my teammates, was such a special moment because, ultimately, those are the people you’re alongside every day. Knowing they valued what I brought to the team meant a huge amount to me.

“I’ve had some really memorable moments here, including reaching 50 appearances and being part of the team that achieved the club’s best league position since 2014. But honestly, I’ll remember the people and the relationships most.

“My decision to leave before the NSL 2027 season isn’t because I don’t feel I have anything left to give, or because I don’t feel good enough.

“If anything, I’m leaving feeling like I’ve played some of the best netball I’ve ever played. That makes the decision harder but also gives me a lot of pride in the chapter I’m closing.

“I’ve grown a lot as a person throughout my time here, and I’ve come to understand that sometimes the bravest thing you can do is choose a new direction.

“My decision to move on from the NSL is very much about me, my life outside of netball and what I need personally at this point in my life.

“That’s been a really difficult decision, but I know it’s the right one for me.

“I’ll always be grateful to Dragons for the people, the memories, the opportunities and the person I’ve been able to become here. I’ll miss it hugely, but I’ll always be a Dragon.”

Performing for your club is one achievement, but representing your country carries a different level of pride. Yarranton has experienced both, further underlining the quality and dedication that have shaped her journey.

Welsh Feathers

“Representing Wales is the greatest honour of my career, without question,” she asserts.

“Getting the call-up for Birmingham 2022 as a late replacement and then stepping on court against Australia was an incredible experience. It gave me a real understanding of what it means to pull on that red dress and represent your country.

“Glasgow [2026] was a very different experience for me personally. To be a starter, to have responsibility from the first whistle and to be out there alongside some of the people I’m closest to was incredibly special.

“Playing in front of our families and Welsh supporters in a full Commonwealth Games arena is something I’ll never forget.

“But if I’m being completely honest, I came away from the Games disappointed with our performances. I don’t think we showed consistently enough what we’re capable of as a group, and I think we have to be really honest with ourselves about where we are at the moment.

“There were patches where we showed exactly what this team can do. We had some really good spells against New Zealand and Jamaica.

“But those moments weren’t sustained for long enough, and at this level you have to be able to put together a full performance.

“I don’t think we should shy away from that. We have to own where we are, recognise the areas where we need to improve and learn quickly.

“We’re not where we want to be yet, and I think the important thing now is what we do with that experience.

“The Commonwealth Games has given us a really valuable opportunity to see what international tournament netball demands and where the gaps are. We have to take those lessons, build on them quickly and use them to make us better.

“We don’t want to look back at Glasgow as something that just happened to us. We need to use it as a turning point.

“The World Cup qualifiers give us another opportunity to show what we’re capable of, and I’m really excited for that. I have huge belief in this group, but I also think belief has to be matched by honesty, hard work and a willingness to learn.

“Representing Wales will always be the greatest privilege of my career, and that’s exactly why I care so much about us performing at the level I know we’re capable of.”

Representing your nation is the biggest honour in sport. It means leaving it all out on the court for your country.

From her first cap at the 2022 Commonwealth Games, Yarranton has been a consistent presence in the national squad. It’s a fascinating time as the Welsh team enters a new era, with attention turning to the World Cup qualifiers.

Future

“There’s a lot I’m excited about, and Australia is obviously a huge part of that,” Yarranton explains.

“It’s a completely new chapter for me, and I’m excited, nervous and curious about what it’s going to bring.

“I’d love to continue playing, developing and challenging myself over there, but I’m also going into it with an open mind.

“This move isn’t about netball for me. It’s about experiencing something different, having a new adventure and giving myself the space to focus on other parts of my life too.

“The last couple of years have made me reassess what I want and what I need personally. I’ve spent a huge amount of my life trying to be the best netballer I can be, and I’m incredibly proud of that, but I also know that I need to prioritise myself and my life outside of the sport.

“I’m still hugely ambitious; I still love competing, and I’m sure I will find myself doing something sport-related; that’s where my passions lie.

“Before Australia, I’ve got something incredibly important to focus on with Wales and the World Cup qualifiers. Representing Wales is something I’ll never take for granted, and I want to give everything I have to that campaign.

“And then I’ll close this chapter with Dragons feeling incredibly proud. I’m leaving at a point where I feel like I’m playing some of my best netball, which is exactly how I wanted to leave.

“I’ll miss the Dragons, the people and everyone who has been part of this journey more than I can say. But I’m also excited for what comes next.”

Yarranton has already created a story filled with achievement, determination and memorable moments.

Yet this does not feel like the conclusion but the beginning of something else. There are more opportunities to seize, more ambitions to fulfil and plenty more of her story still to be written.

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