Yorkshire Jets and Leeds Rhinos today announce a new partnership bringing together Yorkshire’s Superleague netball team with the treble winning Super League rugby league team.
This is the first time a rugby league and netball team in the country’s top leagues have come together to share expertise and encourage participation in their sports at every level.
Yorkshire Jets will work with Leeds Rhinos and the Leeds Rhinos Foundation to develop creative, unique events and projects for the good of the community, to find the sporting stars of the future and inspire a new generation of fans.
The partnership has been developed by a team led by Leeds Rhinos Chief Executive Gary Hetherington and Yorkshire Jets Chair Mariana Pexton.
Chair of Yorkshire Jets Mariana Pexton said: “Rugby league and netball are both family sports to their core – with men and women, mums and dads, old and young, watching our games. The synergies are clear, as are the opportunities to cross-promote the sports – many mums will have sons with a passion for rugby league who look to Rhinos and daughters with a passion for netball who look to Jets.
“We are proud to be partnering with a club respected throughout sport, throughout Leeds and across Yorkshire for being at the forefront of the community and the drive to get more people to participate in sport at any age.
“Yorkshire Jets particularly look forward to supporting the amazing work of the Leeds Rhinos Foundation delivering projects in the heart of the community by harnessing the power of sport to make a lasting, positive impact on individuals’ lives.”
Leeds Rhinos Chief Executive Gary Hetherington said: “We are delighted to be enter into this partnership with Yorkshire Jets, which I believe will offer mutual benefits to both clubs. Over the last decade Leeds Rhinos have grown into one of Rugby League’s most successful clubs both on and off the field and our coaching and management staff look forward to working with Yorkshire Jets to share our experiences and expertise, while also learning from a different sport themselves.
“This is a long term partnership and going forward we hope there will be further opportunities for Yorkshire Jets to work with our charity Leeds Rhinos Foundation to enhance our delivery in schools.”
Ambassadors among both teams will be appointed to lead the relationship and develop links across the clubs and the sports.
Yorkshire Jets player Jess Shaw said: “Yorkshire Jets are proud to be at the heart of the community supporting the development of young netballers across the region and we look forward to expanding this work as part of our partnership with Leeds Rhinos.
“Jets is a team that is developing as part of a sport that is getting more attention all the time so we are all excited about the opportunities that come from being linked with the country’s most successful rugby league team.”
Leeds Rhinos player Josh Walters said: “It’s great to see so many successful sporting clubs in the city and Yorkshire Jets are great ambassadors for Leeds and the whole county.
“I think the partnership between Leeds Rhinos and Yorkshire Jets is a great initiative and we are looking forward to going along to watch the Jets when their season starts and supporting them in their Superleague campaign.”
Photo above shows (from left) Kylie Paynter, John Walters, Stacey Francis, Ash Handley, Jess Shaw and Ashton Golding
Report courtesy of Yorkshire Jets
