Ipswich Town star joins 4 new additions to Reggae Girlz squad

Ipswich Town striker Natasha Thomas is one of four new players called up to the Jamaican women’s senior squad for an away friendly against France at Stade Auguste-Bonal on Friday, October 25.

The 28-year-old, eligible for the national team through her Jamaican grandparents, could become the first player from her club to earn a cap for a senior national team.

Thomas, who has a portrait of her grandparents on her shin pads, expressed her emotions about the call-up, stating, "They would be proud looking down on me. It hasn’t quite sunk in, but I’m sure it will when I'm on the flight to go and play and go into the camp."

Recently named Ipswich Town's all-time record appearance maker, Thomas marked her 217th appearance during a 0-0 draw against Watford on October 6 and increased that total to 218 in a match against Plymouth on Sunday.

The other new players included in the 22-member squad are Liverpool captain Taylor Hinds, Lulu Jarvis—who recently transferred from Brighton to Plymouth Argyle—and Reanna Blades of Burnley.

Coach Hubert Busby explained that the new players were brought into the squad due to the unavailability of college athletes, as well as Manchester City striker Khadija Shaw and defender Konya Plummer. He noted that the college players are currently in the middle of their season, while Shaw and Plummer were unable to travel because of passport issues.

Busby also announced Reggae Boyz 1998 World Cup qualification hero Deon Burton as a member of his coaching staff. The 47-year-old will serve as an assistant coach.

This match against France is the first encounter between the teams since their meeting at the 2023 Women’s World Cup in Australia, where the Reggae Girlz shocked the football world by holding France to a 0-0 draw on July 23, securing their first-ever World Cup point. Jamaica reached the round of 16 after another 0-0 draw against Brazil on August 2, while France advanced to the quarterfinals.

Following the match against France, the Reggae Girlz will host South Africa, ranked 50th, for two home friendlies on November 29 and December 2. This will mark the teams' first encounter since their 1-1 draw in Durban in April 2019.

Jamaica’s squad for the match against France: Rebecca Spencer, Sydney Schneider, Chantelle Swaby, Allyson Swaby, Taylor Hinds, Deneisha Blackwood, Vyan Sampson, Maliah Atkins, Lulu Jarvis, Atlanta Primus, Jade Bailey, Drew Spence, Sade Adamolekun, Reanna Blades, Natasha Thomas, Paige Bailey-Gayle, Kayla McKenna, Jody Brown, Shania Hayles, Tiffany Cameron, and Davia Richards, and Mikayla Dayes.