Sport & Fitness

Go on, name a netball player. If this were New Zealand or Australia, Irene van Dyk, Liz Ellis and Sharelle McMahon would trip easily off the tongue because the sport enjoys a high profile in countries with a less male-dominated sports media. Here, some might recall Kendra Slawinski from a few appearances on ‘A Question of Sport’ during the ’90s but the only recent player with any recognition factor would be Tracey Neville – and that’s mainly because she’s got two football-playing brothers.

You could argue that women’s cricket, football and rugby only garner media coverage in this country because there’s a familiar men’s game for reporters to refer to. England’s netballers are actually ranked fourth in the world, on a par with those other three pursuits, yet exposure is rare – leaving the sport to live or die on its own merits. Feature continues

Last year saw the launch of the Figleaves.com Superleague, a key feature of netball’s bid for publicity. Not only was the competition itself a success, with the best players assigned to eight franchises based predominantly at university centres of excellence, but the new season gets underway this weekend with backing from Sky. Throughout the regular campaign, there will be a highlights package every Thursday evening on Sky Sports 2. And it’s not been shoved into some graveyard slot, either: at 9pm prime time, with repeats the next day, you’ll be able to see extended coverage of one match with the best moments from the others. Next May’s play-offs and final are included in the deal, as is England’s three-match Test series against South Africa, ranked fifth in the world, scheduled for next January.

‘This partnership comes at a key time for the UK game,’ insists England Netball’s Karen Rothery. ‘The first season of the Superleague was well received by players and spectators, and we now have a chance to show a wider audience how fast-moving, physical and exciting netball can be.’

Team Bath were the inaugural champions, beating the Hertfordshire University-based Mavericks – who can be seen in action at Brunel University’s Uxbridge campus on Saturday against Brunel Hurricanes. A year ago, the sides drew 35-35 when the Hurricanes’ England goal attack Abby Teare fired home a long-range equaliser with the clock running down. And you thought only basketball had last-second drama?

By pitting England’s top players against each other on a regular basis, the Superleague concept is designed to help England close the gap on the world’s top three of New Zealand, Australia and Jamaica. Sceptics may recall a similar philosophy underpinning the launch of football’s Premiership, but there are no multi-millionaires or monstrous egos to get in the way of netball’s simple ambitions. ‘It’s crucial for the elite players,’ says England coach Marg Caldow, ‘otherwise it’s hard to survive at international level.’ Marg was captain of Australia – she knows what she’s talking about.

Brunel Hurricanes play Mavericks on Sat. Superleague coverage begins on Nov 30, 9pm, Sky Sports 2.