Ellie Bird announces retirement

Rhinos goal shooter Ellie Bird has announced that she will retire from the sport at the end of the 2023 season.

The New Zealander joined the Rhinos this season where she has made 14 appearances and scored 540 goals.  Prior to this she played five years in the ANZ Premiership with Tactix where she averaged 534 goals, her best season coming in 2021 when she scored 647 and helped her team through to the Grand Final. Her final game will be in next week's final game of the season against Celtic Dragons and will be 99th national league appearance across a seven year career.

The 30-year-old started her netball career in her home town of Hawkes Bay, before playing for Wellington in the NPC. From there she was contacted by her former coach Marianne Delaney-Hoshek to play in Christchurch for the Mainland team in the second-tier Beko League, where she impressed and earned a call into the Tactix side midway through the 2017 season to make her ANZ Premiership debut. She has also represented New Zealand A in 2019 and 2020 and was part of the Silver Ferns Development squad between 2018 and 2020.

Speaking about her decision: "I made the decision earlier this year that this season would be my last. I am listening to my body and I think this is the right time.  Professional sport is demanding physically and you also have to sacrifice so much in your personal life.

"To be far away from home this year I am missing so many family events and watching my nephews grow up.  I have missed being close to my friends and family so am looking forward to returning home.

"I am ready for the next chapter of my life and to focus on my career. I know that I want to help people and the environment. I am still working on what the next step, I have a few ideas and I am excited for the future.

"Growing up Netball was never my dream, I fell into it really, but I have enjoyed my time in the sport and have met some amazing people and made some great friends. It has been challenging, I have grown as a person. I have enjoyed the last year at the Rhinos, I just want to end on a win next week with the Rhinos and then I will celebrate the end of the season like I ever have before!"

Franchise Director, Dan Busfield, said: "On behalf of everyone at the Rhinos I would like to congratulate Ellie on her career and wish her the best for her future career after she retires at the end of the season.  We've loved having Ellie here, she's hard-working, a quality player and a great character to have in the squad and we would like to thank her for her contribution to our club."