Jane Watson

Playing career Early years In 2011, Watson was a member of a Canterbury team that finished as runners-up to Otago in the under-21 final at Netball New Zealand's Age Group tournament. She was subsequently included in the under-21 team of the tournament.

Lincoln University Watson played netball for Lincoln University in local Canterbury competitions.

Mainland Tactix Between 2012 and 2014, Watson made 30 senior appearances for Mainland Tactix in the ANZ Championship. After three seasons playing for Southern Steel, Watson re-joined Tactix ahead of the 2018 ANZ Premiership season. Watson captained Tactix between 2018 and 2021. On 5 May 2019, Watson made her 100th senior league appearance during a 2019 Round 11 match against Northern Stars. In 2020 and 2021, Watson captained Tactix to two successive grand finals. In 2020 she was also named ANZ Premiership Player of the Year. In April 2022, Watson was included on a list of the 25 best players to feature in netball leagues in New Zealand since 1998. Watson will miss the 2022 ANZ Premiership season due to pregnancy. In June 2022, Watson announced she would back in 2023 to play for Tactix. Despite announcing Watson and her partner would move to Ōtaki in 2024 she was signed once for the 2024 season with the Mainland Tactix. Watson celebrated her 150th national league ANZ Premiership game in April 2024.

Southern Steel Between 2015 and 2017, Watson played for Southern Steel, initially in the ANZ Championship and later in the ANZ Premiership. In 2016 she was a member of the Steel team that finished the season as minor premiers. She also played her 50th ANZ Championship game. In 2017 she was a member of the Steel team that won both the inaugural ANZ Premiership and Super Club titles. She was subsequently named 2017 ANZ Premiership Player of the Year

Giants Netball After 11 years seasons with the Mainland Tactix Watson announced her move to join the Giants Netball for the 2026 Suncorp Super Netball season. Watson missed most of the Giants Netball season games due to a Medial collateral ligament injury.

ANZ Premiership statistics

New Zealand Watson made her senior debut for New Zealand on 27 August 2016 against England during the 2016 Netball Quad Series. She was a prominent member of the New Zealand team that won the 2019 Netball World Cup. She was also a member of the New Zealand team that won the 2021 Constellation Cup. On 3 March 2021, during the same series, Watson made her 50th test appearance for New Zealand. Alongside Gina Crampton, she also co-captained the team in the absence of Ameliaranne Ekenasio.

Personal life In 2021 Watson announced she was pregnant with her partner, Santana Nicholls-Hepi. Santana has played netball for the New Zealand Defence Force.

Honours New Zealand Netball World Cup Winners: 2019 Constellation Cup Winners: 2021 Netball Nations Cup Winners: 2020 Taini Jamison Trophy Winners: 2016, 2017, 2020, 2023 Fast5 Netball World Series Winners: 2016 Southern Steel ANZ Premiership Winners: 2017 ANZ Championship Minor premiers: 2016 Netball New Zealand Super Club Winners: 2017 Mainland Tactix ANZ Premiership Runners up: 2020, 2021 Winners: 2025 Individual Awards