Zara P (S5) is celebrating a fantastic achievement after being selected for the Europe Netball U17 Championships 2025! From 5th to 9th March, she will be stepping onto the court at the Antrim Forum Leisure Centre in Northern Ireland, proudly representing Scotland on the international stage.

Miss Duddy, Head of Netball, shared: “This is a fantastic opportunity for a young netballer at the age of 16, and is testament to the hard work and dedication Zara has put in over the last couple of seasons. To trial and be selected for Scotland U17’s just six months after representing at U15 level is a fantastic achievement, and that in itself is something Zara should be incredibly proud of. 

“Since I first started coaching Zara at school in S2, she has always shown tremendous potential and natural flair in netball, so it comes as no surprise to see her performing at the high standard she is just now. She plays with remarkable speed on court and she consistently shows her skill and talent, whether in the mid-court or the attacking circle. 

“It hasn’t always been a straightforward journey for Zara, and she has faced many challenges along the way - most notably sustaining injury at last year's U15 trials and not making the squad. This was tough for Zara to take, but the way in which she bounced back from this setback and kept working hard to prove herself is commendable. She sought advice and feedback from our netball coaching team, and she was determined to come back stronger and make the Scotland squad again, which she has done, in some style! 

“I am extremely proud of Zara and her netball achievements to date and I look forward to watching her represent Scotland on the international stage once again at the U17 Netball Europeans in March. Good luck, Zara!”

Zara said: “I am very grateful for this opportunity. I never expected to be selected for the Netball Europe squad, and I am so excited for the opportunity to represent Scotland U17s in Belfast. I look forward to competing against teams I haven’t played against before and embracing the challenge they pose. 

“The opportunities I have had through netball at RGC have really helped me progress my netball journey, and I appreciate the support from the coaching staff, who have encouraged me and helped me to develop my game.”

Mrs Smith, Head of Senior School, commented: “Inspired by former pupils like Emma Love, currently playing for Scottish Thistles in the PacAus Series, this achievement is a testament to Zara’s determination and skill. She will represent Scotland with pride on the international stage. A huge thank you to our dedicated netball coaching team, whose hard work and commitment have provided outstanding national training and fixture opportunities, helping our young athletes turn their dreams into reality.”

Mr Macpherson, Head of College, added: “We’re so proud of Zara for being selected for Scotland, and we’ll be cheering her on from Schoolhill. It takes a huge amount of commitment to reach this level, and Zara’s ambition and dedication to netball are inspiring. We have a lot of talented netballers at Robert Gordon’s College, and she is showing them what is possible if they really go for it.”

Matches will be live streamed on Europe Netball TV on YouTube throughout the 24 matches across the five day event.