Plummer bows out, but upbeat about Proteas’ future

Norma Plummer signed off as head coach of the Proteas for a second time this past weekend, confident that she has set the team on the correct path in their quest to reach greater heights.

The Australian took charge of her final match on Sunday when the Proteas played the last match of a three-Test match series against the England Roses.

The Proteas went into the series decider 1-1 with the belief they could upset their hosts – the Netball World Cup 2023 finalists – to secure a famous victory in Nottingham.

Before Sunday, the Proteas had tied the series by beating the Roses 61-59 in the second Test, after losing the first encounter 54-51.

They could not repeat the feat, however, but did manage to push their much more fancied opponents in a 53-50 loss, which also saw them lose the series 2-1.

After the match, Plummer lamented not winning the final game – her final act as head coach – while also insisting the team now has all the tools to kick on and build a lasting legacy in her absence.

Following the conclusion of the 2023 Vitality Netball Series, SPAR Proteas Coach Norma Plummer confirmed that she has played her last song as an international netball head coach.

👉 https://t.co/YElrP3MHpa#SPARProteas pic.twitter.com/UzpC7Fl0L4

— Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) December 12, 2023

Said Plummer: “I have had the privilege of working with the best bunch of players in this South African team.

“It is unfortunate we did not win the series, but I can assure you that we have built something here and I can only hope that the team grows from here. I’d like to wish the team well and thank them for a great second stint.

“The time is now for Netball South Africa and netball in South Africa to grow.”

Plummer’s most notable achievement with the Proteas was a fourth-place finish at the World Cup in 2019 during her first spell as national coach.

Thank you, Coach Norma Plummer, for your incredible leadership and dedication to the game. Wishing you all the best in your well-deserved retirement. 🙌![CDATA[]]>😍#SPARProteas | #NetballFamily pic.twitter.com/kRAzPWMmDi

— Netball South Africa (@Netball_SA) December 11, 2023

She returned last year to help the team build towards this year’s World Cup in Cape Town.

Although spurred on by healthy home support, the Proteas were only able to finish sixth in the tournament. The Proteas will now, as hoped by Plummer, continue to grow under a new management team as they build towards the 2026 Commonwealth Games, which has yet to secure a host, and the 2027 Netball World Cup in Australia.