The plan to take the domestic game in the UK to new heights has been initiated with
the activation of an open tender process for interested parties to participate in a
relaunched Netball Super League in 2025.
Following a historic Netball World Cup this summer, with England’s Vitality Roses reaching
the final for the very first time, England Netball has announced the first step in its ambition
to professionalise the domestic game in the UK.
The Netball Super League (NSL), the UK’s top-level elite netball competition, will be
relaunched in 2025, marking a significant milestone in England Netball’s ambition to build
the most competitive, commercially vibrant and captivating professional netball league in
the world.
In 2021 England Netball commissioned an independent review into the professionalisation
of the Netball Super League which consulted with stakeholders across the sport, including
Clubs, the Netball Players Association and its members, and other partners, and helped
shaped a long-term roadmap for the development of the domestic game. The vision for the
future has been created at a time when there is significant momentum and interest in
netball, and in women's sport more broadly.
The new plans will see transformational change over the next decade in the on and off
court product, driven by innovation and delivering extraordinary fan experiences to power
the growth of the game. Significant step changes from 2025 will include clubs playing in
bigger venues and arenas, enhancements in match day events to excite live and TV viewing
audiences, competition improvements to deliver more thrilling, competitive and to the wire
games and advancements in the elite environment to ensure players can choose and
experience rewarding careers in netball.
The future NSL will be driven forward by clubs who share the collective ambitions for the
evolution of the domestic game and can deliver the on and off court advancements
needed. They will operate as part of a strengthened, connected model which will be led by
a newly formed NewCo, to be established next year.
From today (Tuesday 10th October 2023), England Netball is welcoming existing clubs who
believe they can play their part in bringing this exciting new era to life, along with new
interested parties, to express their interest to tender to participate in the relaunched league
from Season 2025.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Fran Connolly, CEO of England Netball said: “In
2021 England Netball launched its ‘Adventure Strategy’ which outlined the journey of
taking our sport to new heights. Netball continues to go from strength to strength and is
now the number one team sport for women in England, with over 3 million people playing
annually and a TV audience of 5.6 million people watching this summer’s Netball World
Cup where the Vitality Roses made history. We now have a fantastic opportunity to build on
this foundation and take our domestic game to the next level.
“Transformational yet sustainable change will take time, but we believe that going through
a tender process will enable us to set new standards for the future and ensure we deliver a
competitive league with clubs that are ready and able to embrace the professional era.
With this next chapter, it's right that we give existing clubs the opportunity to fully
consider, and demonstrate, whether they have the desire and capabilities to embark with
us on the professionalisation journey, whilst remaining open to the interesting prospect
that any new clubs may present. Collectively, we can shape an exciting future for the
league both in terms of quality and ambition.”
Claire Nelson, Managing Director of the NSL added: “After a watershed summer of
unprecedented growth in visibility and interest for women’s sport as a whole, in which
netball in particular has experienced historic new levels of success on and off the court, the
time is right to capitalise on the sport’s popularity and transform the domestic game.
“The relaunch of the NSL presents an unprecedented opportunity to reimagine and
engineer what professional netball can and should look like here in the UK. We know that
netball has huge potential in the women’s sport and entertainment arena, and we have
the drive and vision to fully unlock it in order to position the NSL as a pioneering, exciting
and game-changing proposition within the sports market.”
Liz Bloor, Managing Director at the Netball Players Association added: “We are thrilled
to be part of this exciting and ambitious moment for our sport, the start of a progressive
plan to build a professional future for netball. “This provides the long-awaited opportunity
for elite netballers to become professional athletes in the UK, to showcase their talents in
bigger venues in front of their fans and to earn a living playing the sport they love. For all
the youngsters up and down the country who love netball, greater visibility of their heroes
and the chance to dream of a netball career will be so inspiring.
“The Netball Players Association, on behalf of our members, has worked closely with
England Netball over the last two years to input the players' voice and to help shape the
plans for the league. We look forward to continuing our work with England Netball, the
league and the clubs that become part of it to ensure the player voice continues to be
integral to the decision making, the drive and the ambition for the league as the plans
evolve.”
Any parties interested in participating in the relaunched league can make their expression
of interest through the NSL website here up until Monday 30
th October 2023. Once these
have been received and assessed, invitations to tender will be distributed. Selection
decisions will be confirmed in Spring 2024.
The NSL 2024 competition remains unaffected, although the upcoming season which
begins in February, will be an opportunity to spark the journey towards 2025 by continuing
to drive the appetite for our sport and put fans at the heart of the action.
For more information, please visit netballsl.com
