Few people get to represent their country on the international stage and even fewer get the privilege of doing so as captain.

That, however, is exactly the privilege which former Beaconsfield High School pupil Francesca Wells has been enjoying with the England under-21 netball team.

The Bath university student is in New Zealand competing at the World Championships with England’s indoor side.

It is her fourth separate tour with different age groups of the national set up and her dad, Graham, says her achievements provide a constant source of pride.

He said: “We are very, very proud of her. I went to watch her play in South Africa during 2013 with strict instructions from my wife to film as much as I could.

“I was filming the national anthem and just welling up, so I was trying to film it without crying myself.”

The championships see teams compete in both a six-a-side and seven-a-side tournament and England have already reached the semi-final of the sixes.

An agonising penalty shootout defeat against Australia followed, but Wells produced a fine personal display in both the match and when converting her penalty.

It was a performance which delighted Graham and he praised his daughter’s ability to lead by example in a pressure situation.

“They were so unlucky against Australia after they took them to extra time in the semi-final. Fran scored the goals in normal time and extra time to take them to the penalty shootout,” he said.

“It was the responsibility she showed as captain to step up and take the first penalty which was the best thing for me.

“It was fantastic when she scored and the team did so well to reach the semi-final. I am so happy for them.”

Their run in the quicker paced sixes tournament, should set England up nicely for the more traditional sevens.

New Zealand, Australia and South Africa will once again provide stern opposition throughout the tournament.

Having beaten ended two hoodoos against the southern hemisphere sides in the six-a-side competition, Wells and company are confident of performing just as well in the more familiar format.

“They have gone there to win the sevens tournament and it is remarkable that they have been able to reach the last four of the sixes,” Graham explained.

“They had never beaten South Africa or Australia before in this age group, but beat both in the group stages in the sixes, so will be confident.

“England haven’t played much of the sixes and it is a style which is played a lot more by the Australian, South African and New Zealand teams, so we’re hoping they will do very well in the sevens.”

You can keep up to date with England’s exploits in New Zealand by visiting www.englandnetball.co.uk or finding England netball on Facebook.