You have had a long and successful England Netball career, what have been the highlights?

There have been so many but I think my best highlight has got to be the 2006 Commonwealth Games in Melbourne as that was my very first Commonwealth Games. It was such an amazing environment and atmosphere with all the different teams and it was the first time I got a team medal.

It was also very enjoyable getting an U21 Silver Medal at the World Championships in Florida in 2005.

I’ve also had a lot of major injuries throughout my career so some of the highlights have been overcoming those, getting though all the rehab and then being able to come back and compete.

How does it feel to be retired from international Netball and what are you getting up to now?

It feels weird as England Netball has been such a major part of my life for so many years and now to be retired from it is sad but I know it’s the right time to do it; I’ve achieved a lot – everything I wanted to.

It’s great that I’ve been able to be a part of England Netball and play against some of the best teams in the world.

Now I am retired I hope I can encourage more people to get involved. I am still playing Super League but am looking to develop my career in Netball by going into schools and talking about the benefits of sport and sharing with them how important Netball has been in my life.

How did it feel to be able to lead England out?

It was such an honour to be captain of England and of a great squad of ladies. We all had the same goals meant that I wasn’t playing for myself, I was playing for the whole squad and leading them out there as we represented our country and played for the crowd.

You can’t really put into words how amazing the experience was and it was a great opportunity that I loved.

You have two Commonwealth Bronze medals to your name which is a great achievement. Tell me about the 2006 and 2010 Commonwealth Games and what you enjoyed about them?

Unfortunately I was injured for Glasgow last year but the Commonwealth Games is the highlight of our sport and to be in that elite environment is great.

You end up bouncing off of everyone’s energy and you have great support not just from the Netball community but the whole country is behind you. It’s such a well-run event and offers people opportunities that they may have never experienced otherwise.

Does the 2018 Commonwealth Games in the Gold Coast provide the England Netball team with a fantastic opportunity for success and to medal?

What an amazing venue! It’s going to be fantastic for the England squad coming through that will compete there. It will be good to see where the squad is at, with the rest of the World getting better and better as well, as we saw from the last World Championships and it will be good for England to show how they are improving with every step they take.