Kelly Jury: Silver Ferns and Central Pulse Netball Defender

Kelly Jury — who now competes under her married name, Kelly Jackson — is one of New Zealand’s most experienced netball defenders. Standing 1.92 metres tall, she made her name as a goal keeper and goal defence for the Silver Ferns, New Zealand’s national netball team, and spent six seasons with Central Pulse before moving to Australia’s Suncorp Super Netball in 2026. This profile covers her background, club and international career, injuries, honours and playing style.

Early Life and Junior Netball

Kelly Jackson was born Kelly Jury on 22 October 1996 in Stratford, a small town in the Taranaki region of New Zealand. She grew up on a sheep and beef farm near Makahu and started playing netball at the age of seven. She attended New Plymouth Girls’ High School and later earned a Bachelor of Sport and Leisure Studies from the University of Waikato.

Jury represented Taranaki at Under-15, Under-17 and Under-19 level. She is open about the fact that she did not make a representative ‘A team’ until the Under-17 grade, and she often shares this to encourage young players: you do not have to be the standout from day one, or come from a big city, to reach the top of the sport.

Club Career

Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic

Jury joined the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic in 2014 and went on to make around 40 appearances for the franchise across six seasons. Her early years with the Magic were interrupted by injury, but they gave her valuable experience in New Zealand’s top domestic competition.

Central Pulse

Jury signed with the Wellington-based Central Pulse in 2019 and joined the squad for the 2020 season of the ANZ Premiership. She quickly became a defensive cornerstone, helping the Pulse win the 2020 and 2022 titles. In 2022 she served as co-captain alongside Tiana Metuarau, was named Grand Final MVP and finished the year as the competition’s Player of the Year. She played six seasons for the Pulse before departing at the end of 2025.

Queensland Firebirds

In 2026 Jury moved across the Tasman to play for the Queensland Firebirds in Suncorp Super Netball. The switch was made possible by a change to Silver Ferns selection policy that allows a limited number of overseas-based players to stay eligible for the national team. At the Firebirds she links up with New Zealand coach Kiri Wills.

Silver Ferns Career

Jury made her Silver Ferns debut on 2 February 2017 against England during the Quad Series, and has since earned more than 55 international caps. Her breakthrough year also included a gold medal at the 2017 Netball World Youth Cup, where she was named Player of the Match in the final, following a gold at the 2016 Fast5 Netball World Series.

She was part of the New Zealand squad at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast, where the Silver Ferns finished a disappointing fourth — the country’s first Games without a netball medal. New Zealand rebounded to claim bronze at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in Birmingham. In 2025 Jury captained the Silver Ferns in a test during the Taini Jamison Trophy series, and in August 2026 she was a key member of the team that beat Jamaica 56–48 to win Commonwealth Games gold in Glasgow — New Zealand’s first netball gold at the Games since 2010.

Overcoming Serious Injuries

Jury’s career has been shaped by two serious injuries. In 2015, soon after signing with the Magic, she ruptured an Achilles tendon. Then in 2018 she suffered a badly dislocated shoulder during a match against the Southern Steel. Many observers feared these setbacks might cut her career short, but she returned from each and went on to reach the highest levels of the sport — a recovery she has described as one of the hardest battles she has faced.

Awards and Honours

Across club and international netball, Jury has earned a string of honours as both an individual and a team member. Her standout year was 2022, when she shared New Zealand netball’s top individual prize, the Dame Lois Muir Supreme Award, with shooter Grace Nweke.

Playing Style and Position

At 1.92 metres, Jury is one of the tallest defenders in New Zealand netball, and she uses that reach in the goal keeper and goal defence positions at the back of the court. She is known for forcing turnovers, reading attacking play and pulling down intercepts, as well as for the calm leadership she brings to a defensive unit. To understand where she fits on court, see our guide to netball positions.

What’s Next for Kelly Jury

Now based in Australia with the Firebirds, Jury remains an important figure for the Silver Ferns as the team builds towards the next Netball World Cup. Supporters can follow her latest updates through her Kelly Jury Instagram account.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kelly Jury the same person as Kelly Jackson?

Yes. Kelly Jackson is her married name. She was born Kelly Jury on 22 October 1996 and is still frequently referred to as Kelly Jury in netball coverage.

What position does Kelly Jury play?

She plays in defence, primarily as a goal keeper (GK) and goal defence (GD), using her 1.92-metre height to protect the shooting circle and contest the ball.

Which clubs has Kelly Jury played for?

She played for the Waikato Bay of Plenty Magic from 2014 to 2019 and Central Pulse from 2019 to 2025 in New Zealand, before joining the Queensland Firebirds in Australia’s Suncorp Super Netball in 2026.

How many Silver Ferns caps does Kelly Jury have?

She made her international debut in 2017 and has since earned more than 55 Silver Ferns caps, including a gold medal at the 2026 Commonwealth Games and a bronze in 2022.

What awards has Kelly Jury won?

Her honours include the 2022 ANZ Premiership Player of the Year, the 2022 Dame Lois Muir Supreme Award shared with Grace Nweke, and ANZ Premiership titles with Central Pulse in 2020 and 2022.